Jack Lee Thomas

JACK THOMAS (1929 – 2025)

Jack Lee Thomas, born March 8, 1929, in Mt. Holly, NC, died August 25, 2025, age 96, at Brookridge Retirement Community in Winston-Salem, NC.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Lester Thomas and Janie Mae Beach Thomas Lykins; 2 sisters, Patsy Turner of Winston-Salem and Sarah Coppedge of Raleigh; and his former spouse Betty Smith Lovick of Fayetteville, NC.

He is survived by his 2 sons, David Thomas (Cynthia) of East Bend, NC, and Phillip Thomas (Debbie) of Fayetteville, NC; 2 sisters, Nancy Moore of Hendersonville, NC, and Linda Sigmon (Mack) of Newton, NC; former spouse Judith Steele of St. Louis Park, MN; 2 grandchildren, Ryan Thomas of Raleigh and Caroline Thomas of Raleigh; and many nieces, nephews, and step children and their families.

Jack had a wide range of interests and worked in several occupations, including aircraft manufacturing for the Boeing Airplane Company; 2 years of enlistment in the US Army where he was a radio repair technician; further electronic systems work in New Mexico and in Churchill, Canada; Pastor of First Baptist Church in Marshall, NC; 18 years as a US Army Chaplain which included service in South Korea, 2 tours of duty in Vietnam, and work as a certified CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) supervisor; and work as a licensed massage therapist.

Other notable accomplishments of his include earning his commercial pilot’s license, hiking over 600 miles of the Appalachian Trail at age 72, subsequent work with an Appalachian Trail maintenance crew, and writing a book: Traveling to Marshall: Led by the Spirit in the North Carolina Mountains (Asheville, NC: Grateful Steps, Inc., 2011).

According to his wishes, Jack asked for his remains to be placed in the Salisbury National Cemetery, Salisbury, NC, where there will be a private military service.

Donations can be made to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Jack’s memory - this would be a very fitting way to honor him. Tribute Gifts | Appalachian Trail Conservancy

https://appalachiantrail.org/get-involved/contribute/tribute-gifts/