Frank Joseph Thomas of Gilroy died May 16, 2012. He was born June 16, 1939. He passed away at home after a long struggle with heart/lung disease.
Born in Council Bluffs, IA, he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School there in 1957. He attended San Jose State.
He began a wonderful career with United Airlines in Omaha, Nebraska as a Ticket Agent in 1961, retiring in 2002. He loved every day he went to work, moving many times and opening many foreign stations for United, including Kauai, Guatemala, Rio, Mexico City, and El Salvador. He was Station Manager in Kauai, Monterey, Sacramento, Honolulu and finally San Jose. Frank was known as “tough but fair.”
Some highlights of his successful life included volunteering for the Oakland Raiders as a Judge for the Raiderettes, Defensive spotter, etc. for the team and he will continue being a BIG fan from up above!!!! He hosted the Hawaiian Open PGA Golf Tournament for several years while in Honolulu. He loved to “talk story”, always adding his inappropriate (but always funny) jokes. He loved being with friends, playing poker (because he always won), going to dinner, working in his yard with his roses and collecting railroad and airline memorabilia. But his first and total love in life was his family, being with them, attending the Grandchildren’s sports, and many school events.
He is survived by his bride of 55 years, Nancy; 3 children, Scot (Marina), David, Amy and son-in-law Jim Leaman; grandchildren; Frank, Amanda (Aaron Barton), Robert, Joseph Thomas, Sam and Alyssa Leaman; brother, Kenneth Thomas and special cousin Robert Frieze; many nieces, nephews and cousins. His dog “RAIDER” his constant and amazing companion.
“And we shall walk through all our days with love remembered.”
He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Beulah; brothers and sister; Clayton, Donnie, Maryanne, Bill and Jack, and grandson, Jesse Thomas.
A celebration of his life will be on June 23, 2012, at 2:00 P.M. at Habing Family Funeral Home, 129 4th Street, Gilroy, CA. Condolences can be sent through www.HabingFamilyFuneralHome.com
The family asks that any donations be made to the Thomas Memorial Account, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, 8000 Santa Teresa, Gilroy, CA 95020
