Victor Edward Thomas

Victor E. Thomas, 87, passed away at his home in Pocatello with family at his side January 21, 2017, after a long battle with dementia and complications from diabetes. Vic was born in Aberdeen, Idaho, on September 29, 1929, to George Edward and Thelma Fox Thomas. He was the third of four children, and the brother to three sisters: Velene, Mona Deane, and JoAnn. He was raised on a farm in and around Aberdeen, attended school and graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1947. After graduating from high school, Vic worked on the farm and in potato warehouses until he joined the army in 1949 which provided schooling as a machinist in Atlanta, Georgia. He transferred to the 919 Aviation Maintenance Engineer Company repairing and maintaining heavy equipment used to build and maintain two air fields in Okinawa, Japan. He was honorably discharged in July, 1950. After returning home, he helped his dad on the farm, and worked at the potato warehouse; at Pacific Fruit Express de-icing refrigerator cars; at NOP overhauling guns and operating a fork lift, a cherry picker, a crane, rigger, and doing shop mechanical maintenance. In June of 1954, the NOP was closed down, and he was laid off. He then worked for Idaho Wholesale Grocers hauling groceries during the day, and doing student trips at night as a Union Pacific Railroad switchman. As soon as his student trips for the railroad were completed, he was laid off. In October of that same year, he was hired to be a Security Inspector for the AEC. This was a rotating shift job where he could not read, listen to the radio, or fall asleep. Vic said these were some of the longest hours he ever spent in his life. In August of 1955, he was called back to the railroad where he worked as a switchman for eight years. While working for at the railroad, he completed the Electrical Technology program at Idaho State University and graduated in June, 1962. Upon graduation, he was hired as an instrument technician for Phillips Petroleum, NRTS where he worked for eight years. In 1970, he took a position teaching Micro Electronics for American Micro-Systems, and set up the manufacturing lab at ISU Vo-tech training students in the complete manufacturing of integrated circuits for American Micro-Systems. When the plant was saturated with trained employees, the course was terminated. Vic stayed with ISU Vo-tech teaching related subjects to Electrical and Electronic programs including advanced electrical circuits in the Electrical Technology program, becoming the program coordinator which position he retired from All during this life of job changes and training courses, Vic met Mae Bailey at a Deleta Ball Room dance in November of 1950. They were married in Pocatello, Idaho, August 4, 1951. Two children quickly followed: Vicky, born July, 1952, and Rick born December, 1953. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they were sealed together as an eternal family in the Idaho Falls Temple in January of 1961. Vic served as a Sunday school superintendent; Elders Quorum president; Young Mens Stake Activity chairman; ward Young mens president, and ward clerk. He was a faithful home teacher to many widows of the ward. Vic was often called on to design and build the ward float for the Pioneer Day parades. Then he would be found at the Pioneer Day celebration at Alameda Park cooking up and selling corn dogs. During the summers, he enjoyed playing softball on the ward mens softball team. Just like his work, Vics interests were varied. As a youth, he enjoyed playing the saxophone and riding his horse. He was a member of the Aberdeen Posse. He was pretty handy at building things which gave all who knew him the impression that he could do just about anything. He built the last three houses he lived in. He built the boat that the family enjoyed fishing and water-skiing with. He enjoyed building his three oldest granddaughters each a doll crib and a dish cupboard. For a few years, he enjoyed stock car racing, and raced the stock car he built. When his kids got older, the family took up snow skiing, and went just about every week-end. Camping and fishing was his lasting pleasure. He took his family on a camping and fishing vacation every summer when school got out. After the kids were grown, he and Mae continued the summer camping at Green Canyon at Island Park in a nice 5 th -wheel trailer for their summer home. He enjoyed float tube fly fishing in many lakes and reservoirs in the area, and would tie his own fishing flies. In the winter of 1995, Vic and Mae started spending their winters as Snow Birds in Yuma, Arizona. Here they made many new friends; and with the guy friends, Vic started the hobby of wood carving which he said he could really relax with and be creative. After seven years of winters in Yuma and summers in Pocatello, their Pocatello home was sold, and Vic and Mae took up residency in Yuma permanently until Vics health required them to be back in Idaho closer to family. Vic is survived by his wife of 65 years , Mae Thomas; daughter, Vicky (Don) Hale of Pocatello, Idaho, son, Rick (Camille) Thomas of Middleton, Idaho; grandchildren, Kelli (Robert) Morgan, Kim (Jim) Kolsen, Kari (Jamie) Bevandich, Kourtney (Kyle) Post, Michelle (Sean) Kitchin, TJ (Victoria) Thomas, Heather (Jake) Wills; 15 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandbaby. He is preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Velene Mauch, Mona Deane Larsen, and JoAnn Weisenburger; and grandson, Michael Blake Hale. Special thanks are extended to the doctor, nurses, and special aids of Encompass Home Health and Hospice, Home Helpers, and especially Cassie for the loving care given to Vic and to Mae. A viewing will be held on Friday, January 27, 2017 from 7-8 pm at Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. 4 th Ave. Pocatello, ID. Funeral services, with Military Honors, will be on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 11 am also at Colonial Funeral Home with a viewing for one hour prior to the services. Burial will follow at Restlawn Memorial Gardens, 2864 S. 5 th Ave. Pocatello, ID 83204.

Visitation

01/28/2017 10:00

11:00:00

Restlawn Memorial Gardens

2864 S. 5th Ave

Pocatello

Idaho

83204



Visitation

01/27/2017 19:00

20:00:00

Colonial Chapel

2005 S 4th Ave

Pocatello

Idaho

83201



Funeral Service

01/28/2017 11:00



Colonial Chapel

2005 S 4th Ave

Pocatello

Idaho

83201