Lowell Omar "C.O" Thomas

RIPLEY, Ohio — Lowell "C.O" Omar Thomas, age 84, formerly of Ripley, Ohio, passed away Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, at his home in Venice, Fla. He was born Sept. 21, 1941, in Mason County, to the late Cornelius "C.O." Omar and Gladys Marie (May) Thomas.

After graduating from Ripley High School in 1959, Lowell attended Broadcasting School and worked as an on-air personality at radio stations in Ohio and Kentucky. After settling back in his hometown of Ripley, Lowell founded several businesses, including Thomas Oil and Lowell Thomas Insulation. He served the Village of Ripley as a member of the Village Council and as a volunteer firefighter. Perhaps his greatest contribution to the community was co-founding The Ohio Tobacco Festival, which started in 1982.

Lowell relocated to Florida in 1985 where he resumed his broadcasting career as General Manager of WENG in Englewood, Fla. After retirement, Lowell enjoyed home improvement projects, fishing from his dock and keeping up with his family and friends on Facebook.

True to his Kentucky roots, Lowell was a proud Kentucky Colonel since 1969. Lowell was a veteran of the United States Military, having served in both the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force.

Beside his parents, Lowell was preceded in death by his brother Stephen Charles Thomas. Lowell is survived by his wife Kathryn Thomas of Maysville; his four daughters - Tracy (Randy) Hackler of Madison, Ala., Amanda (Steven) Yates of North Port, Fla., Sterling (Michael) Payne of Saint Simons Island, Ga., and Erin Thomas of Ocala, Fla.: eight grandchildren – Seth (Brittany) Hackler, Adam (Melissa) Hackler, Jherika (Torrance) Crooks, Lauren Hensley, Chance Hensley, Logan Yates, Zevin Evans, and Dublin Evans; six great grandchildren – Shaylynn, Kaylee, MaKenna, Jordan, Isley and Atre'us.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 25, 2026, at Cahall Funeral Home in Ripley, Ohio. Visitation will be from 12 to 2 p.m. Sunday. Interment will follow the funeral service in Charter Oak Cemetery in Aberdeen, Ohio.

Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.cahallfuneralhomes.com