Donald Lee Thomas, 90, of Findlay, Ohio passed away at Bridge Hospice Care Center on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026, after a brief, but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.  Don was a twelve-year survivor of colon cancer.

He was born December 25th, 1935, in Glouster, Ohio, to Robert Alan Thomas, Sr. (deceased), and Ada Louise Adams (deceased).  He graduated from Washington Local High School (Logan County, Ohio) in 1953.  For a brief period, Dodgers’ Manager Walter E. Alston was his baseball coach and gym teacher.  He married Ruth Ann Forbus of Point Pleasant, West Virginia on March 21st, 1959, who preceded him in death.

Don is survived by his children; Cynthia L. Brown of Wexford, Pennsylvania, Jeffrey A. Thomas (Tina) of Greer, South Carolina, and Andrew L. Thomas (Jeanette) of Findlay, Ohio; five grandchildren, Blair Brown Cryts (Ben) of Massachusetts, Kyle Brown of South Carolina, Morgan Thomas of Kentucky, Matthew Thomas of Ohio, and Joshua Thomas of South Carolina; and one great granddaughter, Emerson Cryts of Massachusetts.  He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert A. Thomas, Jr.

Don graduated from The University of Findlay in 1981 with a BS degree in Management having been a student in the very early stages of Findlay College’s Weekend College program.  He served two years in Europe in the U.S. Army (Engineers - Port Construction).  He retired from Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in early 1992 after 30 years of service in Findlay, Ohio and in Montevideo, Minnesota.

He was an active member of College First Church of God since 2009.  He volunteered with Stephen Ministries at College First Church of God, Christian Clearing House, and NAMI Hancock County (board member – Emeritus).

Don enjoyed traveling with Ruth, golfing, painting with watercolors, hunting, fishing, and time with his family.  Don was also an avid fiction and non-fiction reader with a high level of long-term retention.

There will be a private graveside service at Maple Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to College First Church of God, 1100 North Main Street, Findlay, Ohio, or Bridge Home Health and Hospice, 15100 Birchaven Lane, Findlay, Ohio 45840. 

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.kirkpatrickbehnke.com.

The Thomas family would like to genuinely thank the devoted staff members at Birchaven Village, Bridge Home Health and Hospice, and Kirkpatrick-Behnke Funeral Home who provided incredible care and compassion.

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