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THOMAS -- DONALD R. Col. Donald R. Thomas, USAF (RET), a resident of Albuquerque since 1966, died Sunday, September 2, 2007 at the Village of Alameda Assisted Living Home after a long and interesting life. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Lois; daughter, Jane T. Kight and husband, Tom of Albuquerque; son, Hugh H. Thomas and wife, Rosemary Craft of Manassas, VA; five grandchildren, Thomas Kight, William Kight and Andrew Kight, all of Albuquerque, and Erin Thomas and Jason Thomas, both of Manassas, VA; and other relatives and friends. Colonel Thomas was preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth; and sister, Cherry. He was born on March 20, 1912 in Bismarck, ND to John R. and Ida Elmira Arch Thomas, the middle of three children. Donald moved with his family to Idaho when still a small child, where he lived until adulthood. He attended the University of Idaho and graduated, after working his way through college hashing at the Pi Phi house and working for the Forest Service, with a BS Degree in Education and Business and a reserve commission in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After teaching for several years Donald was called to active duty in the Army Air Corps. He was inducted into the Order of Neptune Rex on board the USS Republic after crossing the equator in route to the Philippines on December 6, 1941. After his ship was diverted to Australia, he spent the early war years in Australia and New Guinea, later returning to the United States to be trained to support the occupation of Japan after the end of WWII in the Pacific. After the War, Donald returned to civilian life, marrying Lois Harnett Ryan of Gooding, Idaho. Donald was assigned to Japan in support of U.N. forces during the Korean conflict in 1953, where he served for 3 years with his family who were able to join him in 1954. He was then assigned as a Professor of Military Science with the ROTC detachment at the Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO earning a Masters Degree during this time. In 1960 he was assigned to the Air Force War College at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL until 1961. Donald joined the Joint Task Force 8 in Washington DC where he participated in the nuclear testing in the South Pacific, moving to Albuquerque and then Sandia Base with the Task Force in 1966. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1967 as a Colonel after 27 years of service to his country during WWII, the Korean Conflict, the war in Vietnam and the Cold War. During his service in the U.S. Army Air Corps and the U.S. Air Force, Donald received many awards, which include the Legion of Merit. After retirement, Donald taught at Albuquerque's Technical Vocational Institute and St. Joseph's University and once ran for the Albuquerque School Board. Donald spent his second retirement with his wife, Lois, at home and traveling across the world, visiting places where he had lived and visiting his children and grandchildren. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church. Cremation has taken place and a Memorial Service will be held at French Mortuary, Wyoming Blvd. Chapel on Wednesday, September 5, 2007, 11:00 a.m. Interment will take place at a later date at Santa Fe National Cemetery. We, his family would like to thank the staff at the Village of Alameda, the loving care from Ambercare Hospice, and the guidance of Geriatrics Care Management. In lieu of flowers, we would appreciate memorial contributions be made to the New Mexico Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 9500 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111. French Mortuary, Inc. 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109 (505) 823-9400 www.frenchmortuary.com
        Published on: Wed September 05, 2007