Stephen "Steve" Thomas was born in Olathe, KS to Jacob "Allen" Thomas and Grace Gardner Thomas on Nov. 26, 1941. He was active in his church and Boy Scouts of America where he earned his God and Country badge and his Eagle Scout with two palms. He graduated from Olathe High School in 1960. He then joined the United States Marine Corps where he served in Baghdad, Israel, the Congo and Japan.

After leaving the Marine Corps in 1970, he went to the University of Kansas to study Business Administration and Political Science. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in 1974. He worked at Guaranteed Foods as the warehouse manager, working his way up to Vice President of the company, before retiring in the 1990's.

Although he loved to travel, read and volunteer, he went back to work in several warehouses through a temp agency to keep busy until finally retiring in 2015. He continued to stay active with the Marine Corps League, Young Marines and the Marine Embassy Guard Association. He had a heart for education and spent a lot of time helping raise funds for the Marine Corps League Scholarship Fund.

When Steve wasn't spending time with the Marines, he was enjoying family time traveling or planning trips. Over the years, he managed to visit every state capitol with the exception of Alaska. On his travels, he loved to explore the history at each stop and was particularly enthusiastic to try new foods. He loved to eat, especially chocolate.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents Jacob "Allen" Thomas, Walt Spicer, and Grace Gardner Thomas Spicer; and by his wife, Kay Thomas. He is survived by brother Roy Thomas and his wife Diana of Belton, MO; daughter Tami McCracken and her husband Travis of Olathe, KS; granddaughters Kaddie Bybee and Courtney McCracken; great-grandsons Tyler Ritchie and Matthew Bybee; and many cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Marine Corps League Scholarship Foundation, c/o VFW Post 7397, 9550 Pflumm Rd. Lenexa, KS 66215.

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