Lt Col Blaine E. Thomas

Lt Col Thomas’ funeral service will be held October 2 at 10:00 a.m. in Resthaven Funeral Home’s Abbey Chapel with Reverend Steve McMeans, pastor of Indiana Avenue Baptist Church officiating. Entombment will follow under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home.

Blaine was born to the late Edward C. and Pearl M. Thomas on February 15, 1921, in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1938 and made his home in Council Bluffs until entering the Air Force December 9, 1942. As a pilot, Blaine first flew the B-17; he was then assigned to 303rd Bomb Wing and stationed in England. On the 21st mission, he and his crew were shot down over Dresden, Germany, and he was taken as a prisoner. After being released, Lt Col Thomas was discharged, entered the reserves, and began residing in Omaha, Nebraska, where he met his lovely wife, Jeneve Lucille Bila. They were married March 27, 1946.

On March 10, 1951, Blaine was recalled to active duty and sent to Spokane, Washington, where he served as a B-29 Aircraft Commander for a time; he then was sent to Ramie AFB as a B-36 Aircraft Commander. In 1958, Lt. Col. Thomas was transferred to Altus, Oklahoma, where he was rated as a Command Pilot. His last 4 years in the Air Force were spent as a Chief Controller for the 91st Bomb Wing, with the final 11 months being served in Guam and Okinawa during the Vietnam War where he flew numerous combat missions. Lt Col Thomas was discharged from the USAF in June of 1968.

Blaine then relocated with his family to Lubbock, Texas, and served with the U.S. Postal Service for 16 years.

Lt. Col. Blaine Thomas was preceded in death by his wife Lucille in 2002; he loved and missed her beyond words until his own passing.

While Blaine’s military career was quite impressive and was what defined him the most among his friends, his family remembers him for his unconditional love, pride and life lessons.

His memory will be forever cherished by his son Bill Thomas, and wife, Kimberly, of Brownwood, Texas, and their children Anna Thomas Morgan, Mike Thomas, Megan Beard Garcia, Jason Beard, and Kenzie Beard, son Steve Thomas and wife, Shawna, of Abilene, Texas, and their children Jared Simpson, Lexi Davis, Steven Boyer, and Jamie Boyer. Lt Col Thomas is also survived by several great grandchildren.

Besides his two sons and their families, Blaine cherished the relationship he had with his brother Vernon Thomas of Anacordes, Washington, and numerous sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, and nieces.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Condolences and online guestbook can be found at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com

Arrangements under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home & Cemetery, Lubbock, TX.