Harold A.Thomas, more affectionately known as “Tom”, went home to see our Lord and Savior on September 15, 2016. Tom was a lifer here in the Central Valley.  He was born September 13, 1935 in French Camp, California. Tom, a son of Harold senior and Ruby Ellen Lee, he graduated from Escalon High. He spent four years in the Air Force  stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington (Thank you, a true Patriot) where he met his wife and best friend Nancy Beals of St. Maries, Idaho. They were married in 1957 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Upon his discharge, Tom and Nancy move back to California where he attended Modesto Junior College.
   Tom served on the Manteca Police Force from 1966 to 1979. He then went to work for San Joaquin Lumber until he retired in 1998. Tom was known to everyone and was known for his great stories. Tom loved his camping road trips.  His favorite was when he and Nancy went to Hawaii for three weeks and spent every night on the beaches of Hawaii while in their 70’s. Tom also loved cars, but what he loved most was his family. It was not hard to see the love he had for his wife, two sons, and his grand kids. They were his passion in life. He grew 10 feet every time he talked about them.
   Tom was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Ruby, siblings, Wesley (Bud) Thomas and Shirley Velthoen. He is survived by his wife of 59 wonderful years, Nancy (What a team), sister Joyce Clifton of Ogden, Utah, his two sons and families Kraig and Carrie Thomas, Kris Thomas and Magdalena, grandchildren Krystopher, Carys, Gethen, and Jared, great grandchildren Cameron and Kris Harold, and his many nieces and nephews.
  Donations may can be made to the VFW Ripon, Hospice or United Lutheran Church of Manteca. A special thanks to Hospice for all their caring.
We love you Pops. You’ll be missed. I’m sure Heaven has a project for you.
Services will be at the Ripon VFW, date and time to be announced.

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Saturday,  September 24, 2016