He was born September 3, 1937 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. After graduation from Shawnee Mission High School in May of 1957, he enlisted in the Army. Thomas served from August 1957 to August 1960, starting with training in Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri as a Tractor-Scraper Operator and spent time in Alaska building roads. He qualified as a Marksman and Sharpshooter in basic training and spent time serving in Virginia and Nebraska.
He married his wife Sondra on August 23, 1964 in Jackson County, Missouri. Upon discharge from the Army he worked as a firefighter in Alaska and Kansas prior to being hired by Western Electric/AT&T as a plater. He retired from there after many years of service.
He was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Jane Lewis. He is survived by his wife Sondra, and sister, Nancy Krause. He is also survived by two daughters, Misty (Brett) Cole of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, Rebecca (James) Nelson of Fort Scott, Kansas and a son Christopher (Rhonda) Lewis of Louisburg, Kansas, 8 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and one on the way.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Private family graveside services pending.
