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RONALD THOMAS Obituary


RONALD E. THOMAS
August 25, 1934 ~ August 30, 2012

Ronald "Wick" Thomas of Vancouver, WA, passed away on Aug. 30, 2012, after a battle with (AML) Leukemia.
He was active in the community as a volunteer and was a member of these service organizations:
*Rotary Club International-33 years (Paul Harris Fellow)
*Mentor and Tutor at Martin Luther King Elementary School
*Retired Military Officers Association-life member
*Vietnam Veterans of America-life member
*VFW-Post #7824
*American Legion
*WSU Alumni Association-life member
*WSU Grey W Club
*NRA-life member
*Portland Sky Liners Tall Club
*Kappa Sigma Fraternity
He will be missed by his family
and the many others whose lives he touched.
A military burial with honors at Vancouver Military Cemetery will be announced at a future date.
Please sign his guest book at: www.columbian.com/obits.

Published by The Columbian on Sep. 16, 2012.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

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Memories and Condolences
for RONALD THOMAS

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Dear Thomas,
We remember you, and your friend Bob fights his anemia for about 3 years.
Tatyana Christensen

Tatyana Christensen

Friend

September 12, 2023

Dad,
Yet another year has passed since you left us too early.
Evan and Etta are juniors at UGA and Etta will graduate a year early and begin her Masters in Nursing program this next summer.
Evan is President if his fraternity and majoring in Business.
Both have wonderful boyfriends and girlfriends and you would be so proud of them.
I am working in Augusta as a Sr. Project Manager and come home every night.
Just went diving for 10 days for the first time in 20+ years.
The world is upside down and getting worse daily.
The Cougs are one of 2 PAC 12 teams after a cluster in the conference.
So much has changed and we miss you every day.
Love,
Reid, Cecilia, Evan and Etta

Reid Thomas

Family

September 10, 2023

Dad,
We continue to miss you everyday.
Evan & Etta are Sophomores at UGA and are thriving both in school and socially in Greek life on campus.
You would be so proud of them.
The country and the world get more screwed up everyday and we are doing our best to remain grounded in the values that you taught us.
Love you and miss you!
Reid, Cecilia, Evan & Etta

Reid

September 10, 2022

Dad,
We miss you everyday!
Evan and Etta are both freshmen at the University of Georgia and are thriving!
You would be proud of both of them!
The world has changed since you left it and none of it would make you happy!
Through it all, we continue to work hard and do the right thing!
Love you and miss you so much!

Reid Thomas

Family

September 10, 2021

Ron is still missed!

Tatyana Christensen

Friend

September 10, 2020

Dad,
Yet another year has passed and we miss you everyday!
Evan & Etta are Seniors in HS and will be headed off to College in a year!
You would be so proud of them and they miss you!
We are coping with both a pandemic and the worst political climate in my lifetime.
I miss you and love you and know that you are watching over us and smiling!
RIP Dad!

Reid Thomas

Son

September 10, 2020

Dad,
I miss you everyday and still want to pick up the phone and call you!
Evan & Etta are great kids whom you would be so proud of! They are straight A students, All state youth orchestra violin players and awesome citizens.
Cecilia and I are doing our best to remind them everyday how fortunate they were to have had you as their Grandfather.
I love you and miss you!
Thanks for being a great dad and for allowing me to care for you as leukemia ravaged your body.
It was my honor to be there for you!
Love,
Reid, Cecilia, Evan & Etta

Reid Thomas

Family

September 10, 2019

Dad,
I miss you everyday! When I am on the road following a day of hard work, I have picked up the phone several times to share my day with you only to realize that you are not going to answer. I have the conversations anyway knowing that you are listening and just can't respond. The kids are doing great and say a prayer for you every night before bed. Etta misses sharing her artwork with you but all her work is on a table next to your photo. Evan made the fourth grade A team in Basketball and continues to excel at Baseball.
We all miss you so much!
Love,
Reid

October 15, 2012

Ron (Wick)will be so missed by my family, if you ever needed something, he was right there for you. I will keep his family in my prayers.

Sheri Petrusich

October 12, 2012

I have known Ron for over 40 years. We were both stationed at Vancouver Barracks. We lived next to each other in the two houses in the center of the Barracks area. Over the years we became very close friends. We shared many meals together and attended many other functions such as the annual new car show. Ron spent his time naturally looking at the Lincolns while I scouted the Chevrolet. We eventually learned that we had chased each other all over the globe in our military assignments. We were at such locations as Fort Lenard Wood, MO, Korea, and Vietnam. Sometimes at the same time but our paths did not cross until Vancouver Barracks. I always admired Ron for his relentless community services and his reading assistance to the school. I think he got as much fun and pleasure as the students he mentored. For years I provided Ron with mechanical services. He was mindful of taking care of the environment and dabbed in ownership of diesel, as well as propane propelled vehicles. I tried to lead him into the ownership of antique Chevrolet vehicles which turned into a nightmare. He purchased a 4-door Chevrolet and just was not up to maintaining it as it should be. I ended up actually being the caretaker of the vehicle. Had I not restrained him he would have owned a fleet of Ford trucks which always kept his attention. He never did get to experience the ownership of an antique Ford truck, but made up for it by keeping two or more Lincolns in his driveway. Ron decided he was gonna make a buck by installing garage doors. Due to his height, he could easily install a door by himself. I tagged along on many of his adventures and kinda became a garage door man myself. Many times I called him late at night or on the weekend because someone had a problem. He always responded and we had a great time working together.

I will always miss his unannounced visits and phone calls for mundane reasons, in addition to the, "just" visits. I will miss a great friend.
A salute to you Major.

Raymond & Mary Holland

October 11, 2012

I am one of many friends Ron had in the Portland Skyliners Tall Club. I can say without a doubt that Ron did more than just join something; he would dedicate himself to it. When any of his tall club friends had illness or misfortune, Ron was there with calls and visits. He was true and we will miss him.

Kate Weigant

October 6, 2012

We will miss you Grandpa Ron! What i will miss most is the face to face conversations we had as YOU drove and I sat in the back seat. LOVE YOU LOTS R.I.P.

Ryan Akin

September 19, 2012

I first met Ron in Frankfurt Germany in the early 70's. We were neighbors, school class mates in the C&GS classes, and parents of school students in the US Army schools in Frankfurt. After I retired you and your family were instrumental in my family and I settling in Vancouver. As the years went by we went our separate ways for a while, but I could always count on being able to meet with you for a good laugh and the latest update on the real world as we saw it. Because we were both Army, we could relate to things that most people could not understand. It was so helpful for me to have someone who could understand Army. No one will ever know how it hurts to go to the old house and not have Ron to visit on Monday and Tuesday. I will always cherish the picture Tania took of you, Reid and I the last time we were at your house. I also thank you for being such a good friend for both Tania, Helga and my children and grand children. They all loved you so much and always enjoyed how you made them laugh so hard. I know your kids and their kids will miss having you there for them. There was never a time when I was visiting with you that one of the kids would call to see how you were doing or to get your advice. I can truly say you were the only friend I had in Vancouver. I miss you so much my friend and I will always have a special place in my heart for you. Thanks for being part of our lives. . The Christensen Family, Bob, Tania, Helga, Vernon, Heidi and Grand Kids

Bob Christensen

September 18, 2012

Rest in Peace, my dear first American friend.

I will never forget you.

Tatyana Christensen

September 18, 2012

Ron became my Dad 34 years ago when he started dating my Mom. He attempted to help me with my math homework in Junior High and High School, that really tested his patience. He took me to father/daughter events. He took me and my brother fishing on the docks at the plywood plant. When him and my mom were no longer dating he was still part of my life. He was there when I graduated high school and he was there on my wedding day. Even though I moved across the country we still chatted by phone and I looked forward to being copied on the "letter to the editors" that he sent to the editorial staff at the Columbian. I will miss our conversations about the state of our country and the state of the world.
I love you Dad!

Deanna McLaughlin

September 17, 2012

One of my favorite people from Vancouver Rotary. A dedicated family man/and true American. His impact on countless young people will live on in many generations. A big loss for his family/and community. So glad I had the opportunity to know him via Rotary.

September 17, 2012

Ron,
Thanks for your friendship thru the years. You became one of my favorite conservatives to trade Obama jokes with! Being a liberal, we had many interesting chats over lunch on your way down to see Reid and his family. Speaking of which.......Thanks for giving us Reid. He has been a dear, trusted and dependable friend, co-worker and confidant for over 30 years. God Bless you Ron!
All our eternal love,
Dave and Nita Miiler

September 16, 2012

My husband Ron and I ran into Wick recently at the Vancouver Clinic after too long a time. We fondly remembered the years the kids were growing up here in Vancouver. Our family's love goes out to all of you. You are in our thoughts and in our hearts.

Colleen Hoss

September 16, 2012

Your dedication to the Rotary Lunch Buddy Program at King Elementary had touched many young lives in a positive, enduring manner. Thanks.

Dale Bowlin

September 16, 2012

Grandpa, Thanks for being there for us and fighting hard while you were sick.
Audrey, CJ and Ethan Thomas

September 16, 2012

Celebrating a life well lived. We will cherish the memories forever.

September 16, 2012

My family and I wish to thank all those who visited and contacted my father during his battle with Leukemia. He appreciated every visit and phone call as it reminded him that he was in your thoughts and prayers during his battle with a terrible disease. Thank you all for your support. We will publish a schedule for his Military burial service in Vancouver when we have set a date.
Respectfully,
Reid Thomas

September 16, 2012

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