Birth date: Jun 20, 1932 Death date: Jan 18, 2021
Roland Groover ”R.G.” Thomas age 88 of LaCrosse, Florida passed away January 18, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. He was born June 20, 1932, to Nancy Evelena (Townsend) and G.H. Thomas in LaCrosse. He was the ninth of ten ch Read Obituary
Dear Kathy and Jeff and Marie and Dylan,
We are all very sorry for your loss. Your Dad/ Grandad was a great man. He was always so kind and so friendly and welcoming. I know you will miss him. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers!
Lane and Don Niesen
A letter for Grandpa.
On Monday I lost one of my dearest friends and family members. A man I met 15 years ago and immediately liked. This man took me into his family without a second thought (probably his only known flaw) , the more I got to know him the more I wanted to be like him.
This friend is the reason I discovered one of my favorite past times, fishing from an airboat in Suwannee. Many of my most cherished memories were made possible because of him. He told me that I was always welcome at his home in Suwannee regardless of his presence. This man opened his heart and home to me because I was in love with his granddaughter. We had many conversations thru the short 15 years we knew each other. He guided me in my professional endeavors, he counseled me in my early years of marriage and impacted my religious life in a spectacularly positive way. This man showed me where the Reds hide around Suwannee ! When I think of the many times we spent together at family functions, business meetings, dinners, birthdays, fishing, relaxing around Suwannee, 4th of July’s, Christmases , Thanksgivings, Easters, and occasionally a short visit at the sandbar to drop off Barbara.... it seems there were so many.... but now they seem so few.
This wonderful dear friend of mine made me strive to be a better man for my family, his family and our community. I’ll never fill this mans shoes, nor will any other one man. There will never be another man like him to me or to anyone else that knew him. Although I am so devastated, broken hearted, and emotionally crushed by his departure, I know there are many others he touched far longer than I, who’s world has been far more disrupted than mine ! While it’s hard to think back to the numerous memories we shared together without breaking down in tears right now, I am so honored to have known this man for the time I did. I am so proud to have measured up on his scale to be worth keeping around and accepted into his family, his church, and his heart.
One of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received in my life was meeting my beautiful wife Heather, and then on the 4th of July proceeding that introduction, another precious gift when Heather introduced me to her grandpa “RG Thomas” my friend, and today the man who everyone who knows me, knows I consider my Grandpa!!
One of the last things this dear friend of mine said to me the last time we spoke, the last thing I will remember when I think back to the last days. My friend, one of the men I’ve looked up to the most in my life RG Thomas referred to me as his grandson.
So long for now... until we meet again, I love you Grandpa !!
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Thomas family. From Dale Rusty Ralph Renee and Rebecca Barrett
