Herman Coleman Thomas Jr., 93, of Butler, Missouri passed away on Friday, March 15, 2024. He was born February 4, 1931 to Herman Coleman Thomas Sr. and Catherine Marie Mount Thomas in Terre Haute, Indiana. The oldest of three boys, he grew up in Terre Haute and graduated from Garfield High School in 1949. After high school, he attended Indiana State Teacher’s College in Terre Haute. He left college and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1951 during the Korean War.
In 1979, Herman was stationed at the Marine Corps Reserve Center in Kansas City, Missouri. While attending Penn Valley Community College, he met his future wife, Diana Dee Hutson Green. They married in January 1982 at the Community Christian Church in the Brookside area in Kansas City.
Herman enjoyed a variety of positions during his life beginning in his high school summers during which he was a freight brakeman for the Pennsylvania Railroad. After the end of his first enlistment with the military in 1954, he went to Florida, began working as a horseman with various stables and traveled on the East Coast horse racing circuit. For a while, Herman drove for the Riverside Funeral Chapel in Miami, Florida, after which he became a deputy for the Dade County, Florida Sheriff’s Department. Herman enjoyed sailing on the collection boat for the Florida Seaquarium before enlisting for the second time in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Stationed in Camp Pendleton, California, he retired from the Marine Corps in August 1985 after serving his country for almost 24 years. Upon his retirement from the military, he joined his wife and family in Kansas City, Missouri. Herman then worked as an intern for the VA Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, while he pursued a degree at the University of Missouri. In 2000, he retired from his last job as a guard at the Jackson County, Missouri jail.
Herman was a VFW and NCOA (Non-Commissioned Officers Association) member. Besides serving his country in the military, he set aside time and energy for his community. Herman was active in the Toys for Tots program, the VA radio network, Oates Bus, Meals on Wheels, the Blind Workshop, and library and schoolbook programs.
Herman is survived by his wife, Diana Dee of Butler, Missouri; son, Steven Kenneth Thomas and wife Patricia; three grandchildren, Damian Alexander Thomas, Makaila Ann Thomas, and Silas Alan Cole Thomas all of Pleasanton, Kansas; stepson, John Michael Green of Butler, Missouri; brother, Donald Lee Thomas in California; nieces Deanne “Dee” Bickett and husband Paul, Marjory “Midge” Hitze and husband Larry and Jill Smith; and nephew, David Thomas all in Indiana. His parents and his brother, Larry Dee Thomas preceded him in death.
Herman’s final wishes were to be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather.
