Smsgt. Orval Wayne Thomas, Usaf (Ret.)

On the evening of Tuesday, January 8, 2019, Orval Wayne Thomas, 76, passed away peacefully at home following a courageous battle with cancer.

Born on November 13, 1942 in Lubbock, Texas, Wayne was the son of the late Orval Monroe Thomas and Ora Anna Looney McCoy. A proud and well-decorated Vietnam Veteran of the United States Air Force, he served his country with pride and honor for 27 years. Wayne retired with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant in 1988 and was a Civil Servant at Robins Air Force Base for 17 years. He was an avid golfer and golf course rater for the Georgia State Golf Association in his free time. Wayne also enjoyed being a longtime baseball and softball umpire for Warner Robins and was Former President of the Winnebago Club. He was of the Catholic faith, and faithful member of Our Lady of the Skies at Robins Air Force Base.

His memory will forever be treasured by his devoted wife of 56 years, Pat Thomas of Warner Robins; children, Patti Mintz of Charleston, South Carolina, Michelle “Shelley” Reagin (Chuck) of Moultrie, Georgia, and Matt Thomas of Ponte Vedra, Florida; grandchildren, Simon, Justin and Jessie Mintz, and Quinton and Tyler Thomas; and great-grandchildren, Ava Jewel and Lucas Wayne Mintz.

A Rosary will be said on Friday, January 11, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. with a memorial gathering until 8:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at St. Patrick Catholic Church with Father Thomas J. Fey and Deacon Jim Hunt officiating. Wayne will be laid to rest in Magnolia Park Cemetery following Mass with Full Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial donations be given in memory of Wayne to the American Cancer Society, 804 Cherry St., Ste A., Macon, GA 31201 or to The American Legion, Donation Processing, P.O. Box 361626, Indianapolis, IN 46236-1626, www.members.legion.org.

McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with Mr. Thomas’s arrangements.