William
William (Bill) Samuel Thomas Ii
William (Bill) Samuel Thomas II passed away on November 13, 2023, at the age of 84 as the result of injuries received in a car accident in Lubbock, Texas.
Bill was born April 5, 1939, in Springfield, Missouri to Lee Cole Thomas and Marjorie Lynnwood Gibson Thomas. Bill graduated from Central High School in Springfield in 1956 and received his BS in Civil Engineering in 1962 from the University of Missouri (Columbia). He married Janice Booth Morgan on September 5, 1959, in Camdenton, Missouri. Bill received his professional engineering license and worked for Nordberg Manufacturing for 7 years, Gilvin-Terrell Ltd. for 8 years, and his own civil engineering company, Thomas & Israel for 42 years. Most recently he worked for Geospatial Data Inc. for 6 years.
Bill served as a County Commissioner in both Potter and Randall Counties. He was also active in several organizations and clubs, among them being YMCA Youth baseball board of directors, Kiwanis Club, Amarillo Duplicate Bridge Club where he achieved the status of life master. Bill was a former President of the Tascosa Country Club where he had been actively involved in the men’s golf association. Bill served on the Board of Llano Cemetery. Bill also donated his time as a mentor for math students at Palo Duro High School and was an active member of St. Stephen United Methodist Church where he was a Sunday School superintendent for 38 years as well as a Sunday School teacher in the youth department. As a member of St. Stephen, Bill had leadership roles on the church board and finance committee.
Bill had a great interest in cars, and in his spare time in Amarillo and on frequent visits to his children living in San Antonio could be found “kicking tires” at the local car dealerships in search of his or Janice’s next ride. Bill also loved card games, especially playing spades with his children & grandchildren during holiday get-togethers. There are many cherished memories of Grandpa and the children and grandchildren playing lively and competitive games while enjoying after dinner spirits, leftover pies, and other holiday treats.
Bill’s life outlook was one of positivity, humor, and happiness towards others. Bill always made his children and grandchildren feel like they were uniquely special and gave them great encouragement in whatever they were pursuing. Gregarious is a good word to describe Bill, as he was the type of person that could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere, and at any time. He had that special gift of putting people at ease with his wit and humor. The Christmas holidays were particularly important to Bill as he relished being around his family during that time. Bill’s love, humor, and generosity made Christmas a magical time for his children and grandchildren and his presence will be sorely missed on future Christmas holidays. The family takes some comfort in knowing that Bill’s final days on earth were spent at a joyous family wedding celebration where he danced, drank, and celebrated life to the fullest extent while being surrounded by those he loved and those who loved him.
Bill is predeceased by his father, Lee Cole Thomas, mother Marjorie Gibson Thomas, brothers Gerald Thomas and Lawrence Thomas.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Janice Thomas, Amarillo, TX, daughter, Elizabeth Thomas Wallace, and her husband Larry, San Antonio, TX, and Denver CO. Sons- William Samuel Thomas III, and his wife Traci, San Antonio, TX, Matthew Morgan Thomas, and his wife Tiffany, Austin, TX. Grandchildren, Thomas Bennett Wallace, and his wife Elizabeth, Denver, CO, Lee Cole Thomas, and his wife Maddie, San Antonio, TX, William Samuel Thomas IV, Austin, TX, Ashlee Sutton Thomas, College Station, TX, Cooper Gibson Thomas, College Station TX, Quinton Xavier Thomas, Austin TX and great grandchildren Harper and Bennett Wallace.
A private family service will be held at the Llano Cemetery. A Celebration of the Life of Bill Thomas will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at the Alley at KT Black, 605 S. Washington, Amarillo, TX 79101. Arrangements are under the direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Director of Amarillo, Texas.
The family suggests donations in lieu of flowers be sent to St. Stephen Church, 4600 S Western St. Amarillo, TX 79109 (https://ssumc.churchcenter.com/giving), or Kids Inc. 2201 E 27
th
Ave. Amarillo, TX 79109 (
https://www.kidsinc.org/donate
)
Bill was born April 5, 1939, in Springfield, Missouri to Lee Cole Thomas and Marjorie Lynnwood Gibson Thomas. Bill graduated from Central High School in Springfield in 1956 and received his BS in Civil Engineering in 1962 from the University of Missouri (Columbia). He married Janice Booth Morgan on September 5, 1959, in Camdenton, Missouri. Bill received his professional engineering license and worked for Nordberg Manufacturing for 7 years, Gilvin-Terrell Ltd. for 8 years, and his own civil engineering company, Thomas & Israel for 42 years. Most recently he worked for Geospatial Data Inc. for 6 years.
Bill served as a County Commissioner in both Potter and Randall Counties. He was also active in several organizations and clubs, among them being YMCA Youth baseball board of directors, Kiwanis Club, Amarillo Duplicate Bridge Club where he achieved the status of life master. Bill was a former President of the Tascosa Country Club where he had been actively involved in the men’s golf association. Bill served on the Board of Llano Cemetery. Bill also donated his time as a mentor for math students at Palo Duro High School and was an active member of St. Stephen United Methodist Church where he was a Sunday School superintendent for 38 years as well as a Sunday School teacher in the youth department. As a member of St. Stephen, Bill had leadership roles on the church board and finance committee.
Bill had a great interest in cars, and in his spare time in Amarillo and on frequent visits to his children living in San Antonio could be found “kicking tires” at the local car dealerships in search of his or Janice’s next ride. Bill also loved card games, especially playing spades with his children & grandchildren during holiday get-togethers. There are many cherished memories of Grandpa and the children and grandchildren playing lively and competitive games while enjoying after dinner spirits, leftover pies, and other holiday treats.
Bill’s life outlook was one of positivity, humor, and happiness towards others. Bill always made his children and grandchildren feel like they were uniquely special and gave them great encouragement in whatever they were pursuing. Gregarious is a good word to describe Bill, as he was the type of person that could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere, and at any time. He had that special gift of putting people at ease with his wit and humor. The Christmas holidays were particularly important to Bill as he relished being around his family during that time. Bill’s love, humor, and generosity made Christmas a magical time for his children and grandchildren and his presence will be sorely missed on future Christmas holidays. The family takes some comfort in knowing that Bill’s final days on earth were spent at a joyous family wedding celebration where he danced, drank, and celebrated life to the fullest extent while being surrounded by those he loved and those who loved him.
Bill is predeceased by his father, Lee Cole Thomas, mother Marjorie Gibson Thomas, brothers Gerald Thomas and Lawrence Thomas.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Janice Thomas, Amarillo, TX, daughter, Elizabeth Thomas Wallace, and her husband Larry, San Antonio, TX, and Denver CO. Sons- William Samuel Thomas III, and his wife Traci, San Antonio, TX, Matthew Morgan Thomas, and his wife Tiffany, Austin, TX. Grandchildren, Thomas Bennett Wallace, and his wife Elizabeth, Denver, CO, Lee Cole Thomas, and his wife Maddie, San Antonio, TX, William Samuel Thomas IV, Austin, TX, Ashlee Sutton Thomas, College Station, TX, Cooper Gibson Thomas, College Station TX, Quinton Xavier Thomas, Austin TX and great grandchildren Harper and Bennett Wallace.
A private family service will be held at the Llano Cemetery. A Celebration of the Life of Bill Thomas will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at the Alley at KT Black, 605 S. Washington, Amarillo, TX 79101. Arrangements are under the direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Director of Amarillo, Texas.
The family suggests donations in lieu of flowers be sent to St. Stephen Church, 4600 S Western St. Amarillo, TX 79109 (https://ssumc.churchcenter.com/giving), or Kids Inc. 2201 E 27
th
Ave. Amarillo, TX 79109 (
https://www.kidsinc.org/donate
)
To send flowers to the family in memory of William (Bill) Samuel Thomas Ii, please visit our flower store.
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