Victor R Thomas

Victor R. Thomas, USAF Retired, died April 19, 2021, surrounded by his family.  He is the son of Vernon and Doris (Maddox) Thomas and was born on July 21, 1938, on the family farm in Wallace Creek precinct, Greeley County Nebraska.  He is survived by his wife of 41 Years, Sandra Thomas, daughter Trish Nixon (Kevin), son Mark Thomas (Debbie), Stepson Chris Baker (Trisha), sister Janet Porter (Dick), sister Donna Tinker (David), six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.  He was predeceased by his parents and a stepdaughter, Nicolle Baker.

Vic graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in June of 1960 as a second lieutenant wearing navigator wings.  He attended pilot training in Georgia and began flying C130’s.  In all, Vic flew into more than 40 countries and landed on 400 airfields in his flying career.  While stationed at Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, Alaska, he flew C-130’s with skis to land on the Greenland icecap and on ice islands in the Artic Ocean. Vic served one year in Vietnam in a nonflying job.

When the pilot drawdown began under President Carter, Vic attended graduate school at the University of Arizona in Tucson. His career entered a new phase with a Master’s Degree in Management Engineering. After several years in those assignments, he was recalled to fly his beloved c-130 in Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas.  The final four years of his career were spent at Nellis AFB, once again in the man power field. He retired from active duty in June, 1988.

During his career he was awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force outstanding unit award with six Oak Leaf clusters, National Defense Service Metal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Short Tour Ribbon, Air Force overseas Long Tour Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

After retirement from the Air Force, Vic was employed as an agent for New York Life for several years. Next, he worked for Enterprise Rental Car until 2016.  During those years he missed flying, so he joined Civil Air Patrol flying blood runs, Green Flag Missions and Search and Rescue.  He was a twenty-five year member of CAP, retiring in 2016. Vic was a thirty-seven year member of Rotary (North Las Vegas and Boulder City Sunrise). On the board of Lend-a-Hand, a volunteer at the Southern Nevada Veteran’s Home, a member of the Patriot Guard and a faithful member of the Faith Christian Church of Boulder City.

Services will be held May 1, 2021, at Faith Christian Church, 1100 Buchanan Blvd, Boulder City. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the music department of Faith Christian Church.  Family and friends can sign an online memorial guestbook at www.bouldercityfamilymortuary.com

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