Owen Jerome Thomas

Moultrie, Georgia – Owen Jerome Thomas, 93, of Moultrie, Georgia, passed away on Friday, August 29, 2025, at Legacy Village at Park Regency, while surrounded by his family.

Graveside rites are 11:30 AM, Monday, September 1, 2025, at Cobb-Suncrest Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:15 AM, Monday, September 1, 2025, at Cobb Funeral Chapel.

Casketbearers are Henry Thomas, Presley Thomas, Kyle Watkins, Keith Thomas, Mark Thomas and Stephen Reynolds.

Born May 17, 1932, in Moultrie, Georgia, he was a son of the late William Ross Thomas, Sr and Cora Belle Castleberry Thomas. Owen was a lifelong resident of Moultrie. As a strong athlete, opportunity came his way in the form of a football scholarship to the University of Florida in 1950. He was so proud to have played for the Gators all four years. But he was most proud of the lasting friendships he made with fellow teammates. That foundation brought him back to Moultrie to become involved in sports in the community, even coaching a ladies softball team. That is where he met Sybil.

He grew his family and worked hard. That hard work caught the eye of Robert Thunander, a businessman from Elkhart, Indiana. He gave Owen the opportunity to manage Thunander Corporation for many years in Moultrie. If he was not working, he was usually playing softball for the church league or the men’s league. He loved going to the Packer football games to watch his sons play and in his later years, listening to the games on the radio. He just loved being involved in any sport in which his children participated.

He loved his community and was happy to see the friends who would come into Thomas Supply to visit. He loved his family and was so proud of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

He was fortunate to have lived a long, productive life. He traveled across the country during his college football career, worked at Spence Field as an aviation navigator trainer, became a successful businessman, stayed involved in sports until the knees gave out, enjoyed his restored vehicles, enjoyed woodworking projects, and had watched every Western movie or show ever made. He had some interesting experiences. He valued loyalty and was very loyal and generous to his family and friends. He and Sybil raised their family to work hard and love the Lord. As he slowed down and he knew the end was nearing, he would say “I had a good run.” He sure did.

The family is very grateful to the 4th floor nurses at Colquitt Regional Medical Center, the caregivers at Magnolia Rehabilitation, the entire staff at Legacy Village and the Colquitt Regional Hospice team.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sybil Sullivan Thomas; son, Anthony Thomas; granddaughter, Lucy Eleanor Thomas; and brothers, Ross Thomas, Jr. and Arnold Thomas.

Mr. Thomas is survived by his children, Alison Thomas Watkins and husband, Brian, of Lake Park, Georgia and Bob Thomas and wife, Theresa, of Moultrie, Georgia; grandchildren, Abby Watkins, Kyle Watkins and his wife, Emme, of Lake Park, Georgia, Henry Thomas and wife, Allie, Fielding Thomas Bueno and husband, Alexis, and Presley Thomas and fiancée’, Hannah, of Savannah, Georgia; great-grandchildren, Leah Tourtellott, Ila Tourtellott and Hollis Watkins of Lake Park, Georgia, Olivia Thomas and Roman Bueno of Moultrie, Georgia; sisters-in-law, Vivian Vines Thomas and Sally Parks Thomas.

Memorial donations can be made to Colquitt Regional Hospice or the Colquitt Regional Medical Center Foundation.