Richard “Dick” W. Thomas

Richard (Dick) Waine Thomas, age 97, was called to be with his Lord and Savior on November 11, 2018. He passed away peacefully surrounded by members of his family at The Woods Memory Care Unit at Samaritas Senior Living Center.  The Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 pm on Friday, December 28, 2018 at The Terrace Trinity Chapel at Samaritas, 2000 32nd St. SE, Grand Rapids with a reception to follow.  Mr. Thomas was born in Olney, Illinois on May 11, 1921 to Mona & G. Waine Thomas.  He graduated from Allentown Prep School in Allentown, Pa. and went on to obtain a B.S. in Chemistry from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va.  He was a member of the Lambda Chi Fraternity. As a chemist and metallurgist, he enjoyed working for Parke Davis Pharmaceuticals (Detroit, Mi.), Continental Motors (Muskegon, Mi.), and finally retiring from General Motors Diesel Equipment (Grand Rapids, Mi.).  He then performed consulting advice to several companies including Penske Enterprises & Autocam Automotive both in Grand Rapids, Mi.  Richard was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and a Life Member of Americas Handyman Association. Mr. Thomas was a long-time member of Trinity United Methodist Church serving on many committees & singing in the choir.  His hobbies included camping, boating, classical & barber shop music, collecting scale model trains & cars, and being a repairman for other people. Richard was proceeded in death by his wife, Louise; his son, Steven; and his parents. He is survived by three daughters & one son:  Sandra (Larry) Williams, Kathleen (Bob) Powers, Paul Thomas, Nancie (Jim deceased) Thomas.  He has ten grandchildren: Jenniffer (Josh) Williams McCoy, Jason (Amber) Williams, Joshua Powers, Jordan (Meghan) Powers, Zech Powers, Bethany (Jake) McDougall, Kendra (Matt) Lindberg, Natalie Thomas, Conall and Jeremy Rubin-Thomas. There are also nine great-grandchildren:  Aislinn Cain, Lawson Williams, Jameson & Carter Powers, Scottlynn & Archer Joy McDougall, Zoey & Zayden Lindberg, and Sawyer Barnes. Mr. Thomas will be interred at Rest Lawn Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Mi.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Trinity United Methodist Church (1100 Lake Dr., Grand Rapids, MI), Samaritas Senior Living Benevolence Fund (2000 32nd St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI), or Hospice of Michigan (999 Spaulding Ave. SE, Ada, MI).