Arthur Frank Thomas

Arthur F. Thomas Jr., beloved father, husband and friend, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2017, 1 day short of his 91st birthday.
He was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin on December 25, 1926. He graduated from West High School and married his high school sweetheart, Janet Synnes Thomas in 1947. He served in the Army (Military Police) and National Guard towards the end of WWII. He graduated from St. Norbert College with a degree in chemistry. He was quite the athlete and participated in a variety of sports including football, basketball, track and field, target shooting and, in later years, tennis and golf. He also enjoyed hunting (from a young age) with his father. He was a life-long fan of the Green Bay Packers and remembered watching them play at City Stadium at East High School. He attended the first "Super Bowl" at the LA Coliseum on 1/15/1967 where the Packers played the Kansas City Chiefs (the Packers won!) He spent the majority of his professional life as a salesman for Pfizer Pharmaceutical Co. His knowledge, charm and gift of gab enabled him to be well-liked and successful. He dabbled in politics (5 years on the City of Monrovia Planning Commission) and in real estate. He retired early to care for Jan, who had chronic illnesses and passed away at age 63. Several years later he became reacquainted with Judy Ryan, a local Monrovian who was a widow. They wed in 1993 and had 20 years together traveling, participating in various clubs (Rotary, Investment Club) and enjoying their families until Judy's unfortunate passing in 2013.
In November 2016 he fell and sustained a serious injury; he was never able to fully recover afterwards. He leaves his 3 children Susanne Weber (and Bob), Laura Thomas, David Thomas (and Rita), grandson Mason Gentry plus his stepdaughters Kristy Pittman and Kelly Lugo and their families. A funeral service is planned for Wednesday January 3, 2018 at 2:00 PM at Douglass & Zook Mortuary in Monrovia, with a gathering at The Monrovian Restaurant to follow. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Convalescent Aid Society, Pasadena.