Mr. Nathan R. Thomas

Passed 08/03/2020

Obituary For Mr. Nathan R. Thomas

Viewing will be held Monday, August 10,2020 from 2:00PM - 6:00 PM; Willie A. Watkins Historic West End Chapel. A virtual service will be held Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at 11:00AM, followed by a virtual graveside service at 1:00PM. To view the virtual funeral and graveside services, please use either the Zoom or the YouTube link provided below. Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88364667867

YouTube Live: https://youtu.be/JaxbbCHlDck

During this time of pandemic, a donation to the USO in memory of AF SMSgt Nathan R. Thomas would be greatly appreciated by the family. https://www.uso.org/donate/donate-in-honor.

Nathan R. Thomas took his first breath in the Bronx on February 6, 1947. His parents, Nathan and Nancy Thomas, loved him, taught him, and laid the foundation of the life we celebrate today. Years later, when his little sister Celestine was born, they bonded, creating a sibling relationship that weathered distance and hardship. Nathan enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1966 and moved to North Dakota, where he discovered his extreme dislike for cold weather. He married Loretta Toth and started a family, and during this time, his parents and sister Celestine left New York, journeyed south, and set down roots in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Nathan spent four years on active duty before transferring to the Air Force Reserves and moving his wife and two sons, Nathan Sean and Jason, to Georgia. Between active duty and the Reserves, he gave 32 years of service to our nation, deployed overseas several times, developed lifelong friendships, and traveled extensively. He remarried in 1978 to Janice Adams and had two additional children, Natasha and Justin. Nathan may not have been a fighter pilot during his time in the military, but he certainly drove like one. All four children remember harrowing trips to Orangeburg with Nathan “Tom Cat” Thomas at the wheel to visit the grandparents, Aunt Sis, and many family members in the area. Even in his 70s, Tom Cat drove every vehicle as if he were leading a convey through a minefield.

Even though he traveled often, Georgia remained his home, and Elizabeth Baptist Church remained his church home over the decades. He was a member when the church was located on MLK and Rev. Hightower was the pastor, and he stayed faithful to EBC and Dr. Oliver. He served on the Security Team for over twenty years and could be seen every Sunday and several times throughout the week walking the grounds with his black baseball cap and jacket. Thanks to North Dakota, he never went anywhere without a jacket.

Nathan retired from the Air Force in 2006, but that didn’t stop him from enjoying life. He traveled with his wife, Ola Richardson, and settled down on a quiet piece of land in Griffin, Georgia. He maintained contact with his children and grandchildren, and he traveled to Florida, California, and Hawai'i to spend holidays with them. And no matter how hard they tried, his children could never beat him in bowling.

Aside from hair-raising drives on otherwise peaceful roads, his family also remember his profound alien conspiracies, his admiration for classic cars, his love of music, and his devotion to being a provider. He provided strength to people in their weakest moments, laughs to friends in need, a helping hand to anyone who needed one, and words of advice to patient ears. Nathan was a quiet storm of love and provision.

Nathan R. Thomas took his last breath in Atlanta on August 3, 2020. He is predeceased by his parents, Nathan and Nancy Thomas, and his wife, Janice. He is survived by his sister Celestine, his sons Sean (Andrea) Thomas, Jason Thomas, and Justin (Janis) Thomas, and his daughter, Natasha (James) Fisher. He also leaves behind his granddaughters Brittany Thomas, Sydney Thomas, Naomi Fisher, Jamie Fisher, Grace Thomas, and Anna Marie Thomas, and one grandson, Benjamin Thomas. The Thomas Family Circle, his Air Force family, his Elizabeth Baptist Church family, and his many friends from throughout his life celebrate the shared times and take comfort in the fact that he is now at rest.

The family would like to thank everyone who provided support, prayers, friendship, and love throughout Nathan’s life and during this time of transition. Thank you.