NORTH WEBSTER – Lewis R. “Randy” Thomas, 71, Warsaw, formerly of Wilmot, went home to be with his heavenly Father at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, at Parkview Heart Institute in Fort Wayne.
He was born April 1, 1947, in Bluefield, W.Va., to Pastor Lewis Edward and Alice Doby Thomas. On March 4, 1976, he married the love of his life, Sandra K. Beezley, who survives.
In 1953, Randy’s family relocated to Findlay, Ohio, to serve our Lord and Savior at the Findlay Church of God. In March of 1966, the Thomas family moved to North Webster to serve the Lord at the North Webster Church of God.
In North Webster, Randy began a career at Metcalf and Payne Plumbing and Heating. He also served as a volunteer firefighter at the North Webster Fire Department. One of his favorite pastimes at the fire department was watching the storms develop. His daughter Wendy remembers him saying, “I loved watching the clouds roll in.”
Later, he advanced his career as a CAD operator at Parker Hannifin in Syracuse for 20 years. He retired from Maple City Machine in Goshen.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife and best friend of 43 years, Sandra K. Thomas, Warsaw; his daughters, Wendy (Steve) Harges, Warsaw, and Lori Thomas; son, Brad Thomas; his two grandsons, Thad and Toby Harges, who were his ultimate pride and joy!; his favorite granddog, Howard; his sisters, Barbara (Roger) Core, Findlay; Wanda Mickley, North Webster; and Arlene Portwood, Winter Haven, Fla.; and his brothers, Mark (Chris) Thomas, Greenville, Tenn.; Donald (Deb) Thomas, Roseville, Calif.; and Mike (Maureen) Thomas, Kalamazoo, Mich. Also surviving are several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and many, many nieces and nephews whom he adored.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Joyce Mohr.
Even though Randy lived most of his life as a Hoosier, his blood ran grey and scarlet for his beloved Ohio State football team. He so loved watching his Buckeyes with his daughter Wendy, while “mom rolled her eyes in the background.”
A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, at Owen Family Funeral Home in North Webster.
A funeral service will be held at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, with Pastor Todd Gerst, of Warsaw Community Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Salem Cemetery in Wilmot.
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Memorials to Warsaw Community Church, 1855 S. County Farm Road, Warsaw, IN 46580, where Randy attended for over 15 years.
To send condolences to the family in memory of Randy Thomas, visit owenfamilyfuneralhome.com.
