Dwight John Thomas

The world lost a gentle, kind, and loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, and uncle: Dwight John Thomas (Pinky) on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Throughout his 94 years you never heard him say a bad word about anyone.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026, at Esterdahl Mortuary and Crematory, Ltd., Moline. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the funeral home. Interment will be at Greenview Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to the family.

Dwight John Thomas (Pinky) was born June 18, 1931, to George Mason & Chlotiel (Goswick) Thomas at Moline Public Hospital. He grew up at 1614 26th Avenue in Moline, Illinois. He attended Willard School, John Deere Jr High School and graduated from Moline High School in 1949, on 16th Street, Moline.

His father George M Thomas passed away when he was 31 years old after giving a blood transfusion to his youngest son and died of pneumonia. His mother was unable to care for all five children, so he went to live with his Aunt LaZelle Moon, and his grandmother Goswick in 1943 until he graduated from school and left for the army on July 5, 1949: spending his service time in Germany and receiving an honorable discharge on November 16, 1952.

He married the love of his life, Edna Evans Brubaker, and immediately became a loving father to three children on June 18, 1955, at the Community Center in Spring Brook Courts.

After leaving the service he worked at the Rock Island Arsenal and John Deere Harvester. He then started working as a pipe fitter for Rock Island Lines in Silvis from 1954 to 1963. He then finished his career at Alcoa from 1963 until retiring in 1993.

When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed playing in a Picks and bowling League. He kept his bowling average of 187-200 throughout, bowling in five separate leagues, five nights a week. He was an AVID Cubs fan. He loved his family deeply.

He is survived by his daughter, Pauline (Polly) Thune of Colona, Illinois; daughter in-law, Amy Brubaker of Huntington Beach, California; stepson, Bobby (Lynn) Brubaker of Toledo, Ohio; grandsons, Wayne (Ellen) Palmyra of Missouri, Dennis (Marly) Osborne of Erie, Illinois, Larry of Rock Island, Mark (Shira) Brubaker of Oakland, California, Tony (Tara) Osborne of Matherville, Illinois, Christopher (Tara) Osborne of Colorado Springs, Colorado; granddaughter, Tammy (Roche) Hudson of Palmyra, Missouri; numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna; sons, Wayne, and Kenny Brubaker; son in-law, Edward Thune; grandson, John Brubaker; parents, George and Chlotiel Thomas; brothers, George and Kenny Thomas; sisters, Darlene Engels and Audrey Heynick.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.