John C. Thomas

Virginia Beach – John Thomas passed away June 23, 2017. He was born June 11, 1935 in Bellefontaine, Ohio to Charles D. Thomas and Frances Courtade Thomas. An Eagle Scout at Bellefontaine High School and a member of the Air Force ROTC at Notre Dame University, John was commissioned as an officer in the Air Force in 1957. During his 20 year active duty career, his assignments included many of the highlights of the history of the second half of the 20th century. He served combat missions in the Congo, Vietnam, and Cuba, tracked radiation from Soviet nuclear testing as a weather and reconnaissance officer, and shared his expertise as an aircraft commander with a generation of pilots as an aircraft instructor at McClellan Air Force base in Sacramento, California. Following his retirement from the Air Force, John became an energy conservation analyst for the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District.

John married the former Barbara Steadman in 1964 in New Jersey. After having two daughters the family moved to Sacramento, where they were active members of St. Mel’s Catholic Church. Later, after moving to Virginia Beach, John and Barbara became members of Star of the Sea Catholic Church where they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends in 2014.

John is survived by his beloved wife Barbara Thomas, daughters Teri Dermody of Norfolk and Tracey Jacobson of Washington DC, and grandchildren Meagan and Patrick Dermody. A memorial service is planned for 10 am Saturday, July 1 at Star of the Sea Catholic Church.