Samuel M Thomas , Jr.

AIKEN – Samuel Morgan Thomas, Jr., 83, passed away Friday, April 3, 2015. A celebration of life will be held Sunday, April 19, 2015 at Woodside Country Club from 3:00-5:00 PM. Interment will follow at a later date at West Point Military Academy. Sam was born August 7, 1931, in Birmingham, Alabama to Samuel M. Thomas and Bebe Wharton Thomas. Sam was a rebel from birth----thinking of ways to entertain his two cousins. At age 9 his Mother sent him to Georgia Military Academy, and after graduation he entered one of his great loves, The United States Military Academy, West Point, where he graduated in 1953. Sam was a triple centurion at WP for discipline, walking the area 300 hours. He was given a transistor to experiment with from the Bell Labs and made a radio that fit into his dress hat which he wore in parades----for that misdemeanor he was given 50 hours. After graduation he moved to Texas and then Germany. In Germany he became a Ham Radio Operator and learned the speak German fluently. In 1961 he was sent to Pakistan which was probably, no definitely, his favorite assignment. In Pakistan he worked with the Tribal People to try to let them know he was there for them, not against them. He left the Army and worked for IBM, Potter Industries, Morgenthal, Hazletine, and Cincinnati Electronics. He received his Master’s Degree from U. of Michigan. His mind was always thinking of a way to build a “better mouse trap”. He worked with Admiral Rickover as a contractor providing navigational systems for Nuclear Submarines; he worked with the development of the Satellite programs for the NSA; and he became a builder, to build his house out of reinforced Styrofoam and concrete. Sam and his wife, Nadine, moved to Aiken, SC in 2000 upon completion of the dream house he named “Dunromin” because both of them had moved so often in their lives, this was where they were “done roaming”. Sam loved God, his Country, West Point, the Army, his daughter, Linda Dickerson, his son, Christopher Thomas, his cousins and his wife, Nadine to whom he gave so many warm, wonderful, funny, thrilling memories. He gave her a gold charm shaped like a knight and said, “In case I’m not around I want you to have this knight in shining armor.” Nadine will never take it off. Then he gave her a gold key, “Oh the key to your heart”, said Nadine, but Sam replied “No, it’s the key to knight’s armor so he can go to the bathroom”. Romantic, yes, but filled with humor. Sam was a member of and contributed to: The Rotary Club; The West Point Society, The Navy League, The Denisons of the Deep, The SAR, and the Society of Old Crows. Samuel has left behind his wife, Nadine, his daughter, Linda, his son, Christopher, his step-son, Michael Trevors, four grandchildren, three great grandchildren, his cousins and “The Long Gray Line” of which he was so proud to be a part. The world will be a little darker without the light Sam shone on it. Sam lived by the code of West Point, “Duty, honor, Country” his whole life. He gave of himself for so many causes and touched the lives of so many people. “God Speed” Sam for a life “Well Done”. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, 203 Park Ave. SE. Aiken, SC 29801 SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC 29801 His online guestbook may be signed at www.shellhousefuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Samuel M Thomas , Jr., please visit our flower store.