Owen Christopher Thomas

lived in Los Angeles until he was four. In 1964, he moved with his parents into a brand new

house on Feather Avenue in Thousand Oaks, during a time when there was only one traffic light

in town. Owen attended Aspen and Acacia Elementary Schools, Redwood Intermediate School,

and Faith Baptist Academy. He graduated from Thousand Oaks High School. Owen playing

football at Faith Baptist for three years and enjoyed being an Explorer Scout. He spent many

hours playing outside with friends in the Feather Avenue neighborhood. When the flag went up

the pole at Owen’s house, the neighborhood kids knew that the pool was open for fun. Owen’s

grandparents lived around the corner and Owen would travel between the two houses with his

friends. Little did Owen realize that his grandparents home would one day become the home

where he would raise his own family.

Owen was always open for adventures. Owen’s Dad, Evans, remembers that Owen would

ride his bicycle all the way to and beyond Lake Sherwood. Owen’s lifelong passion was surfing,

which he started when he was fourteen. Evans would drive him to the beach several times a

month and spend hours sitting in the car waiting for him to get in the last wave. Evans

remembers that Owen’s favorite surf day was always Friday, when he liked to skip school.

Owen’s childhood and teen years were filled with adventures, laughter, joy and freedom.

He grew up with a passion to enjoy every second of life and go all out to make every day the best

it could be.

Owen was able to experience lots of travel adventures from an early age. At age seven, his parents drove with him across country in a VW Bug. He took a trip with his Mom to Europe

and spent a month seeing different countries. His favorite destination was the Alps in Germany.

Owen continued to pursue his passion for travel throughout his life. He loved to incorporate his

outdoor sports activities in his travels. Karen and Owen honeymooned in Australia for several

weeks and Owen brought his surfboard with him on the honeymoon. He traveled to Costa Rica,

Hawaii, Northern California, Florida and North Carolina to pursue surfing. He water skied in

Don Pedro, Florida, Cancun, Lake Powell, Lake Shasta, the Colorado River, on private lakes in

Bakersfield and many more locales. He snow skied from an early age when he would vacation in

a family cabin in Wrightwood and enjoyed skiing with the neighborhood kids. One of Owen’s

favorite trips when he was young was when he was able to travel to Alaska with his grandfather,

where they rafted down the Yukon River. Owen would later enjoy many more travel adventures

with Karen and Taylor by his side.

In his late teens and early twenties, Owen learned the skills necessary to do plastering and

stucco work in the construction industry. Within a few short years, he obtained his contractor’s

license and built a successful and well regarded plastering business in the community known as

Thomas Plastering. Owen was an amazingly hard worker. For over 35 years, he built his

business and made it a priority to provide well for his family. Because of Owen’s hard work and

dedication, Karen was able to stay home after Taylor was born and devote herself to volunteer

activities, working at the school, and supporting Taylor’s interests.

Owen met Karen when he was 21 and she was only 17. Their first date was the

Junior/Senior prom at Thousand Oaks High School. Owen’s friend Brian set them up on a date,

and the rest is history. Owen and Karen dated for nine years before they were married in October

1991. Karen and Owen celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary last month while watching

University of Alabama football together. They were best friends. Throughout their marriage,

they made many memories - traveling together or just spending time in Ventura, riding bikes, or

watching Owen surf. Owen also loved to spend time with family and friends camping and in the

desert riding dirt bikes or razors. He loved being outside, getting dirty and having a blast.

Other than his beloved wife, Owen’s most precious love was reserved for his daughter,

Taylor. Taylor is now 21 years old and a senior at the University of Alabama. Roll Tide! Owen

was so proud of Taylor and made it a priority to be an important part of her life at every stage.

He was the ever present Dad - making memories and sharing her joys and accomplishments. He

shared with Taylor the joy of being funny, goofing around, and making people laugh. He taught

Taylor how to be accepting of all kinds of people and to learn from others who were not like you.

Owen’s philosophy was always about inclusion - “the more the merrier”. He made an effort to

learn everything about Alabama football and loved making the trips to Alabama to attend the

football games. It was a special source of pride for Owen to watch Taylor become so successful

in college.

Owen wanted to live his life to the fullest. As a family, they traveled to Hawaii,

Australia, Jackson Hole, the Bahamas, several places in Mexico, New Orleans, Nashville, and

many more fun vacation spots. Owen was always a “yes”, “let’s go” adventurer, up for anything.

He loved the summers he was able to spend with his big Greek family cousins and extended

family in Virginia. For the last 28 years, there have been many family trips to the shore, when

the families would rent a huge beach house and fill it up with Greek cousins. Swimming,

surfing, games, Greek food, and fun times together with family. Owen loved to make memories

and spend time relaxing and laughing.

Owen was diagnosed with brain cancer in March 2019. From the very beginning, he

fought to get well, bravely completing radiation and chemotherapy, and even getting back to

work for a short time this year. His unshakeable faith in God was his strength and his hope until

the last moment of his life. He went to be home with the Lord on October 26th. God did a

remarkable work in and through Owen’s life. Owen was blessed to have a wonderful team of

doctors at the UCLA Brain Tumor Institute who provided care, support and guidance throughout

his treatment process. Owen’s entire family is so very grateful for their guidance.

Owen is survived by his father and stepmother, Evans and Brenda Thomas; his half

brother, Andrew Thomas; his mother, Patricia Gaboury; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lori

and Matt DeCelle, and their children, Braden and Peyton; and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law,

Kevin and Sarah Broomfield and their children.

A Memorial Service will be held at Calvary Community Church on Sunday, November 3,

2019, which is Owen’s birthday, beginning at 3:00 p.m., followed by a reception at the church.

Calvary Community Church is located at 5495 Via Rocas, Westlake Village, CA 91362.