Grady Thomas

Grady R. Thomas was born October 29, 1946 in Borger, Texas to Grady and Mary A. Lee Thomas.

Grady's family moved to Wharton, Tx. as a child, where he later graduated from Hungerford High School then joined the United States Navy and served his Country honorably during the Vietnam War.

As a flagman on the USS Tripoli aircraft carrier, he landed helicopters. During his tour, he married Aver K. Hopper of Boling, TX. While Grady was out to sea, his first child, Grady Wayne, was born and later his second, Tonya Kathleen, was born.
Upon leaving the service, he worked at Dow in Clute. Grady moved his family to West Columbia where they purchased their first home in 1976. A few years later, he and his best friend, Johnny Barron, started a forklift company together in Wharton, Texas where he worked until 1990.

Grady enjoyed the outdoors, where he spent much time with his family hunting and fishing. He enjoyed watching western movies with his dachshund, Scooby.
After 7 months of battling cancer, he passed away Friday, May 13, 2016, at his home, where he was surrounded by his children and grandchildren.

Mr. Thomas is survived by his son, Grady Wayne Thomas and his wife and Grady's caretaker, Trisha Kaye Thomas and grandsons, Dylan Wayne Thomas and Chandler Wayne Thomas, all of West Columbia. His daughter, Tonya Kathleen Ankenbruck and her husband, David B. Ankenbruck and grandson, Cole Thomas Ankenbruck of Pearland, Tx., his sisters, Margaret Audrey of Blanchard, Oklahoma, Yvonne Morton of Frisco, Tx. and Grady's best friend, Johnny Barron of West Columbia.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

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