Timothy Lee Thomas, 89, passed away Sunday morning, March 20, 2016.
A celebration of Tim’s life will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at Angelo’s, 2533 White Settlement Road in Fort Worth.
There will be a private memorial service for the family at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts be made to: First Baptist Church of Crowell, 1122 North Main St., P.O. Box 179, Crowell, Texas 79227. Condolences can be left on Tim’s online guest book.
Tim was born February 16, 1927, in Hoxie, Arkansas to Earl and Frankie Thomas. He grew up in Fort Worth and attended Paschal High School before joining the U.S. Navy to serve in the Pacific with the Armed Forces Radio Network. He received his diploma in a special ceremony in 2001. He worked at KFJZ radio and the Texas State Network after the war and later on with the Clifford Herring Sound Company before founding Thomas Electronics, the forerunner to TEI Communications, a nationwide technology contractor.
Tim married the love of his life, Carolyn June Billington, at College Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth on January 31, 1948. They were happily married for 65 years. During the years, he loved time with his family and his many friends. He enjoyed writing and drawing and had a penchant for invention where he held title to several patents involving health care communications, museum security, and water purification. Tim was a Shriner, Downtown Rotary Club member, Petroleum Club member, past president of the Tarrant County Heart Association and former Mayor Pro Tem in the Town of Lakeside. He enjoyed HAM radio, operating as K5KXT, King X-ray Thomas, and was founder of the POETS Club.
Tim was preceded in death by his wife, “Junie;” parents, Earl and Frankie Thomas; mother and father-in-law, Ima and Tanner Billington; sister, Pat Staples; brother, David Thomas; sister-in-law, Billie O’Flaherty; brothers-in-law, Bud Staples and Les Benner; and niece, Robin Jensen.
He is survived by his sons, Tim Thomas II and Jon Thomas; daughters-in-law, Joan, Robin and Dana; grandchildren, Alison Pillow, Neely Smith and husband Ryan, Tanner Thomas and wife Cady, and Tyler Thomas; great grandchildren, Leighton Pillow, Eleanor and Caroline Thomas, and Vale Smith; nephew, Randy Thomas; sister-in-law, Gloria Benner; brother-in-law, Raymond O’Flaherty; brothers, John and Mark Thomas; sister, Charlotte Wilson; nieces, Debbie Driver and Sherry Hipple; and many other family and friends.
The Thomas Family would like to express gratitude to Glenda Harnack and the wonderful staff at the Riverside Inn at Fossil Creek.
