William (Bill) John Thomas

William John (Bill) Thomas, 90, passed on March 17, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. He left us with a loving smile on his face. 

Bill was born and raised in Raton, New Mexico, and obtained his BS in Business Administration from Denver University, and was a lifelong member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He moved to Alamogordo in 1958 and helped raise his four children. He worked as an estimator with his father, Will Thomas, and brother, Edward Thomas, at Thomas Plumbing & Heating and Hydro-Air Sheet Metal until 1973. He continued working as an estimator in the commercial plumbing business in Santa Fe and Albuquerque until he retired in 1998.

The legacy and impact Bill had on our entire family was amazing. He was a wonderful and caring father who gave unconditional love always. He showed up 100% and was there for all of his family regardless of the situation (which had its moments with four children and nine grandchildren!). He provided guidance and never said, “I told you so.” He was patient, consistent, intentional, and purposeful. He was more than just a fantastic Dad; he was a caring, loving, and wise friend to all who knew him—family, friends and co-workers. His humor, knowledge, and kind spirit were infectious and made him comfortable and easy to be around.

Bill was an avid sports fan all his life.  He participated in basketball, football, and tennis.  He enjoyed college and professional basketball, football, horse races; you name it, he watched it and kept up on all the stats. He rarely missed attending any of his grandchildren’s recreational and high school sports events in basketball, track, soccer, baseball, volleyball, and football. The family loved sports as much as he did! Let’s hope he can watch March Madness and the Super Bowl from Heaven!

Bill is preceded in death by his father, William Thomas, mother, Isabel Thomas, grandmother, Molly Thomas Killian, brother Edward Thomas, sister-in-law, Azalia Thomas. He is survived by his four children,

Kimberly (Thomas) Adamson, Karen (Thomas) Akerfelds, Kevin B. Thomas, and Kristie and Scott Mutz-Thomas; nine grandchildren, Will Adamson, Nicole Thomas, April Thomas, Melissa Thomas, Justin, and Christa Akerfelds, Stanley and Nicole Luna, Wyatt Thomas, Brandon Mutz, and Alyssa Mutz; and four great-grandchildren, Patrick Adamson, Elijah Thomas-Ortega, Isabel Luna, and Theo Akerfelds; and nieces and nephews, Michael and Minda Thomas, Terry and Ken Johnson, Kathy Thomas, and Molly (Thomas) and Gene Hysoll.

We are grateful for your love, gentle kindness, friendship, consistency, courage, grace, and dignity every day--past and future.  Your smile will shine in our hearts forever.  

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH DAD/GRANDPA/BILL.