David Charles Thomas

Thomas

David Charles Thomas (Age 90)

Of Kensington, MD passed away peacefully on June 1, 2023 with his loving family at his side, in his home in Kensington, MD.



David Charles Thomas was born on May 5, 1933 in Providence Hospital on West Grand Blvd in Detroit, MI to parents Aubrey Lynn Thomas and Norma Anna Church Thomas. He was raised at 12138 Roselawn Street in Detroit and graduated from Noble Elementary School, Tappan Intermediate School, and Mackenzie High School. In 1951, he entered the University of Michigan and graduated in February 1956 with bachelor's degrees in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics, and then in June 1957 with a master's degree in Nuclear Engineering. He was elected to Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu engineering honor societies.



In 1959, David married Joan Ella (Joella) Masley in Lincoln Park, MI. They had two daughters, Susan Lynn and Judith Anne. Susan married Charles Aubertin and Judith married Joel Miller. David and Joan were divorced in 1995. Susan and Charles have three sons, Michael Andrew, Gregory Charles, and Douglas David. Judith and Joel have three children, Molly Joella, Lucy Baird and Jackson Thomas. These six grandchildren were David's greatest joy in life.



He was the brother of the late Jere Delbert (surviving wife Joanne) and a proud uncle of his only nephew and niece Charles Matthew and Nancy Ann.



Upon graduation from the University of Michigan, David was hired by the Atomic Energy Commission, which was combined with other U.S. government agencies to become the Energy Research and Development Agency (ERDA). After more combinations, ERDA became the Department of Energy. He retired after 35 years of U.S. Government Service in 1992, and began working at the Washington, DC office of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). He was then employed by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), which underwent a reorganization to become Leidos. He retired from Leidos in 2014 after working a total of 57 years.



In David's service in the U.S. Government, he first worked in the Division of Reactor Development on advanced nuclear reactors, he then transferred to the Division of Operations Analysis and Forecasting to assist in forecasting the requirements for uranium enrichment services for civilian and Government nuclear reactors, he then transferred to the Division of Production where he was chief of the Combined Operations Branch. He then became Assistant Director for Operations Analysis and Budget in the Production Division. In his work at LLNL, SAIC and Leidos he was involved in a project between the U.S. Government and the Russian Federation for converting highly enriched uranium (HEU) from Russian nuclear weapons into low enriched uranium (LEU) for use as fuel in U.S. nuclear power reactors. His work involved traveling to Russia to monitor the conversion of the HEU into LEU, and as part of the program, he travelled to Russia 50 times.



Relatives and friends will be received at PUMPHREY'S COLONIAL FUNERAL HOME, 300 W. Montgomery Avenue, Rockville, MD on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 from 4 to 7 p.m.



Please sign the family online guestbook at

www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com