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John “JT” Robert Thomas, 72, passed away peacefully on October 30th, 2021, in Tucson, Az, with his wife and daughters by his side. He was born in 1949 to Robert and Mary Thomas in El Paso, Tx. His family traveled for the military, and he was particularly fond of his time spent in Okinawa, Japan, where he was a Boy Scout in the Far East Council, Troop 102. He graduated from Irving High School in El Paso, Tx, in 1968, after which he served in the US Navy until 1974 with the Polaris Missile Program. During his service, he performed duties as an Electrician, Navigation Aid Technician, and Radio Mechanic aboard the nuclear-powered submarine USS Tecumseh. John attended the University of Texas at El Paso and received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. In his junior year, he met and married his wife, Catherine Frances Tanner. John accepted a position with IBM in 1979 and retired after 34 years. John and Cathy raised two daughters, Kimberly and Kristen. They were married for 44 years. John was a passionate family man who would do anything for his “girls.” Later, he adored being “Papa” to his grandchildren Vanessa, Violet, and Kade. He enjoyed working outdoors where the Arizona heat never seemed to slow him down. He easily smiled and liked making quirky remarks to get a playful rise out of anyone he met. Those who knew him will miss his advice, his kindness, and his stories that always started in the middle. John is preceded in death by his father and brothers Jim Thomas and Steve Thomas. He is survived by his mother, wife, daughters, grandchildren, and sisters Susan Arnold and Sandy Doss. Funeral services will be held at noon Friday, December 3rd, at Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 15950 N. Luckett Rd, Marana, AZ 85653. Friends may call from 8:30 am to 10:30 am Friday, December 3rd at Sensible Cremation and Funerals 109 W Grant Rd. Tucson, AZ 85705.

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John Robert Thomas

October 2, 1949 - October 30, 2021

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John Robert Thomas

October 2, 1949 - October 30, 2021

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