THOMAS, DONALD R.

Donald R. Thomas, 84, devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle passed away on Monday, November 2, 2009. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Isabelle Presparitio; his parents, Steve and Golda Thomas; and his brothers, Steve and Roy Wayne Thomas. He is survived by his loving wife, Roberta Thomas; siblings; Herbert Thomas and Barbara Miller; sons, Brian and Kurt Heiser and their spouses, Lisa and Nancy Heiser; granddaughters, Sarah and Lauren Heiser; grandsons, Brendan and Paul Heiser; nieces, Diane Davies, Jackie Blanchard, Jodie Britton, Barbie Thomas, Debbie Thomas, and Carol Thomas; and nephews, Dale Bryant, Tom Thomas, and David Thomas. Don was born on July 3, 1925, in Hammond, Indiana. After high school, he proudly served his country in WWII as a Marine Raider in the USMC. He was wounded in action while retaking the island of Guam and spent 22 months in a Veterans hospital. He was awarded the Military Order of Purple Heart three times. After the war, he graduated from Elgin Watchmaker’s College and owned a jewelry store in Lincoln, NE. He wanted to enrich his professional life, so he became a hearing audiologist and moved to Phoenix, AZ in the early 1960s. He owned his own audiology business until he retired in 1984. On January 1, 1990, Don married Roberta Heiser and started a new family that adored and loved him immensely. Visitation will be held Friday, November 6, from 6:00-8:00 pm at Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary, followed by a celebration of Don’s life on Saturday, November 7, 2009, 2:00 pm at Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary, 719 N. 27th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85009. In lieu of flowers, please send donations payable to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301, Attn: Gift Processing.