William Keith "Bill" Thomas

William Keith Thomas, Jr.
"Bill"
In the small hours of the morning on August 7th, 2024 William Keith Thomas, Jr. took his final breath. Bill succumbed to the aftereffects of a stroke that had occurred more than two years prior.
Bill was born to William "Keith" & Ileen (Maple) Thomas on March 6, 1943. He was born while his father was in the army during WWII, making him a member of the Silent Generation. In a way, this is a very appropriate way to remember Bill, because he quietly went about making an impact on his family and community with his integrity, work ethic, and faith.
Bill graduated from Cainsville High School in 1961 and went to the University of Missouri-Columbia. There, he ultimately acquired a Masters Degree and a wife. He married Virginia (Stahl) Thomas in 1966. While establishing himself in his chosen field of meat science they lived in Lewis County, Columbia, and St. Joseph, expanding their family in each location. They finally settled in Ridgeway, MO with the purchase of a business in 1974 that would become the Ridgeway Freezer, Inc., it then became Thomas Farm Quality Meats.
Bill and Virginia had three children Dan, Chris, and Sara, all of whom graduated from Ridgeway High School. His children, and the subsequent grandchildren, were a primary focus for this family man. Bill was a playful parent, uncle, and grandpa, he frequently made time for them all and found a way to have fun with them while still imparting his beliefs, values, and work ethic.
In addition to being devoted to his family, Bill also dedicated his time, effort, and energy to the things he believed in. He was a member of the Ridgeway Baptist Church where he used his Mr. Fix-it abilities to keep the building in good working order. He was an active member of the Missouri Association of Meat Processors, becoming involved in leadership, and attending conventions (and winning awards). Eventually, he became President of that association and was voted into its Hall of Fame.
Bill is reunited in heaven with his parents, Keith and Ileen, his brother Alan, his grandparents Arthur & Marie Thomas, Harley & Cora Maple, and his in-laws Joe & Doris Stahl. He can now also settle around a card table with family members that have gone on before him; Uncle Bob & Aunt Kathleen (Maple) Clegg, Uncle Kenny & Aunt Joanna (Maple) Bondourant, Uncle Jack & Aunt Elaine (Maple) Graham, and Uncle Stanley & Aunt Margaret Maple. He will no doubt have a nice long visit with the original international man of mystery, the man he called Uncle Dean Thomas. He will also get the opportunity to reacquaint himself with his Uncle Wayne & Aunt Dorothy Thomas and his Aunt Jeanne (Thomas) Ward. His brother-in-law, David Stahl, and his nephew Mark Stahl will have greeted him with a hearty "hello" as they spend time telling tales and reminiscing.
He leaves behind an adoring family consisting of his wife of 57 years, Virginia, who remained steadfast, loyal, and loving throughout their time together, including his final years at the Daviess County Nursing Home. His children also mourn his loss, including his oldest son, Dan, and his ex-wife Jodi (Snead), along with their four daughters Grace, Rose, Penelope, and Leah. Bill's middle child, Chris along with his son, Jackson, will always feel Bill's influence in their everyday lives. His youngest child, and only daughter, Sara, along with her husband Shannon Smith, and their children Cora and Connor have a place in their hearts that belongs only to Bill.
His siblings knew Bill the longest and have memories of him from childhood that they prize. Bill was the oldest, and as such he had an elevated status in their hearts, setting an example of moral character for them to follow. The middle child was his sister, Sandi who had the distinction of introducing Bill to his future wife, Virginia. She has a plethora of shared experiences with Bill as they grew up together on the farm and in 4-H, not the least of which was a cart filled with muskmelons for sale and the ice cream purchased with the proceeds. Sandi married Allen Putnam and had two children, Amy and Ruth, the Putnam family lives in Minnesota. The youngest was David, he was a string-along child as Bill was 16 years his senior. Despite the age difference, they became very close later in life as they worked together farming. They both also particularly enjoyed setting off fireworks on the 4th of July. When he was just four, David remembers driving Bill's blue and white Ford while sitting on his lap. David married Dianne (Hawkins) and had two girls, Elissa and Whitney.
Many of Bill's characteristics live on through his children, grandchildren, and other family members. His integrity, honesty, and upright character ran alongside his fun-loving nature. This encompassed many cliches and quirky sayings, and random song outbursts, but at the end of the day, none of them could out-work Bill. He is the family's acknowledged champion when it comes to getting stuff done. Bill also loved learning, especially history, evident in the fact that two of his children and one of his granddaughters are teachers. Bill also seemed to have a deep well of patience for his family and his employees, teaching them skills that they needed to know. He mentored many young men in this way through the locker and church. However, this deep and abiding patience is a characteristic unique to him, as his children did not inherit this trait. Stubbornness, yes, his children inherited that trait, and a modicum of patience, also yes, but the depth of patience Bill was capable of, sadly, no.
Bill was so proud of his grandchildren, in their strength of character and of their accomplishments. He followed all of their activities cheering from the sidelines always ready with positive feedback afterwards. Grace followed in her grandpa's footsteps to attain a degree of higher learning in her chosen field, she is pursuing her Master's at the University of Nebraska in Omaha. Rose and her husband, Morgan Wallace, gave Bill his only great-grandchildren, Liam and Waverly. Penelope became a teacher and an involved community member in Ridgeway along with her husband Caleb Wallace. Cora displayed her grandpa's determination when she set out to become an X-ray tech, she is now working at the hospital in Kirksville. Jackson, Connor, and Leah recently graduated from high school, and each will make their mark in their own unique way. Leah would like to become a business owner, like her grandpa. Jackson was the salutatorian in the Class of 2024 at South Harrison, and, like his grandparents, dad, aunt, and cousins, he is going to MIZZOU in their Honors College. Connor distinguished himself in athletics in high school and will continue his athletic career on the men's golf team at NCMC in Trenton.
Bill was a fantastic in-law, his other surviving sister-in-law, Barbara (Stanley) Stahl can attest to his cheerful and ready attitude. He is also survived by nieces, and a nephew, each of which will have their own Uncle Bill stories to tell. His cousins, like his siblings, can add their recollections from their childhood along with thoughts about the man he became.
His family and faithful friends have many fond memories of Bill and the lessons he taught them. While they deeply feel his loss, those who loved him rejoice that he is now whole and at peace, walking and talking with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.