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George W. Thomas, 98, aka Grandpa Texas and Uncle George, passed away on October 18, 2019, after suffering a fall which lead to surgery and hospitalization. George was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, on October 12, 1921, to Jessie Mae Dunman and George W. Thomas, Sr. He was the oldest of 7 siblings and left his home to live on his own in Tulsa, Oklahoma at age 13. There he lived in a tear drop trailer worked at Western Union, threw papers, attended high school and worked at Lawson Hardware. He enlisted in the army in 1940. George was stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas where he served until 1941. He was shipped to Australia and drove car for the Inspector General. When WWII started, he served in the South Pacific, East Indies, Papuan, and New Guinea where he experienced actual combat. He received an honorable discharge on June 9, 1945, receiving the Pacific Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, Good Conduct and American Defense Medals along with a Distinguished Unit Badge. While at Fort Sam Houston, prior to the war, he met the love of his life, Elisabeth Baylor. When he went to war, Elisabeth left to attend Baylor University. Upon his return to San Antonio in 1945, he proposed and married Elisabeth. They had one daughter, Diana, in 1946. George went to work for the San Antonio Transit System in 1945 and left there in 1946 for a job with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. He spent 36 years with the Telephone Company as an installer and business rep until his retirement in 1982. George loved visiting with people, his affiliation with the WWII Veterans Red Shirts who had monthly breakfasts, looking at new cars, drinking coffee, joy riding and traveling. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers, the VFW, and the American Legion. He was a pet lover feeding a colony of cats, had a small bird “Baby” that he nursed to health after it fell from the nest, and loved his dog Sweetie. George was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Elisabeth Baylor Thomas, and six siblings of which he was the oldest: Brothers - Cleo, Gerald, Ernest, Francis and Albert Thomas. Sister-Zula Mae Gill. He is survived by his Daughter: Diana Thomas Rooney (Fred), Grandchildren: Randall Smith, Shannon Twining (Mike), Great Grandchildren: Kaitlyn Smith, Thomas Twining, and Cameron Elisabeth Twining of California. Numerous nieces and nephews and Sister in Law, Betty Gotthardt. Visitation will be Saturday, November 9th from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. with the Funeral Service to start at 11:00 a.m. at Mission park Funeral Chapels South followed by interment. A celebration of life will follow at Brooks City Base Embassy Suites.

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George W. Thomas, Jr.

October 12, 1921 - October 18, 2019