Raymond Garnet Thomas' Obituary
Raymond Garnet Thomas was born 4/5/1930 in Calumet Michigan to Garnet and Lillian Thomas. He grew up in Calumet and later Flint. He studied at Michigan Tech where he also played varsity football at tackle, on both offense and defense, something rarely seen these days. He also clearly agreed with Vince Lombardi’s view that while dancing is a contact sport, football is a hitting sport. In 1952 he graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. That same year he joined the Army as a lieutenant and married Geraldine (Jean) Campbell, the twin sister of his friend Bruce who lived in a house kitty-corner to his. Ray and Jean’s first son Gary was born in 1953. The family served in Germany where they experienced post-war conditions and Jean encountered Gregory Peck who was staying in the same building in Munich. Germany is also where their only daughter Susan was born in 1955. After leaving the Army, the family returned to Flint Michigan where Sons Brian (1956) and Kent (1958) were born. After slipping on some treacherous Michigan winter ice Ray decided to move to warmer climes, and got a job in the aero-space industry in California in 1959. In sunny California his youngest son Steven was born in 1962. The family moved to Federal Way, WA around 1966 and Ray eventually transferred to the Boeing Company. Ray played in the Boeing volley ball league, for a time on the same team as his son Gary and Gary’s wife Jean when Gary also worked at Boeing. Ray and Jean were early barnstormer members of the Museum of Flight. Ray was also active in the Tacoma Elks club. Another pastime was flying and the acquisition of a private pilot’s license. Ray was also an avid reader and learner and earned a Masters in Business Administration from Pacific Lutheran University in 1976. Ray and Jean moved to Bonney Lake on Lake Tapps in 1976 and lived there for over 20 years before they moved to a dream condominium in Tacoma. Ray retired from Boeing in 1993 and he and Jean embarked on many travels, often with their beloved dog Max, and often to California where Ray played volleyball and Jean swam. Jean passed in 2023. Near the end Ray moved to an adult family home where he entered hospice and was over-joyed by the many and frequent visits he received. He passed peacefully in his sleep on December 11, 2025. He is fondly remembered and sorely missed by his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, as well as by other relatives, friends, and former colleagues.
Ray is survived by his brother Robert and wife Joanne; Ray’s son Gary and wife Jean, Gary’s son Jacob and wife Jennifer, Jacob’s children Sara, Matthew; Ray’s daughter Susan and husband Glenn; Ray’s son Brian and wife Carie, Brian’s daughter Jenifer, Jenifer’s children Kai, Kaleia, Brian’s daughter Julie, Brian’s daughter Melissa and husband Rick, Melissa’s children Jaison, Lillian and husband Cameron; Ray’s son Kent and wife Beverly, Kent’s son Christopher, son Joshua and wife Jesse, Joshua’s children Josh, Josslyn, Kent’s son Jeff and his children Noah, Kyle and Joey, Kent’s daughter Nicole and her children Maegan, Abby, Michael and Manny; Ray’s daughter-in-law Julie the wife of Ray’s son Steven who passed in 2019.
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