Albert Weil Thomas II Obituary
Albert Weil Thomas II, 93, of Mesa, Arizona, son of Albert W. Thomas and Clara B. Skipper, passed away on January 20, 2016, peacefully at home. He is survived by his loving children, Albert III, Jana and Lance and grandchildren Michelle and Danielle.
Albert was born April 5, 1922, in Terrell, Texas. He met his wife-to-be Billie Jean Chapmond at Sheppard Air Force Base. They married in June of 1946 and celebrated 64 years together. They raised their family in Redwood City, California, before moving to Apache Junction in 1976 where together they established and built a mobile home and RV resort.
He was with the 11th Tank Company at Schofield Barracks on December 7, 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor that Sunday morning. After Pearl Harbor, Albert was transferred to Europe and fought with the 5th Armored Division until the end of WWII.
In his off hours he enjoyed flying and achieved his glider, helicopter, single-engine land, multi-engine land and single-engine sea pilot’s licenses. He lived an active life and pursued woodworking, motorcycle riding and target shooting. He was an avid reader who enjoyed Louis L’Amour Westerns and Tom Clancy novels. He looked to the future and in the last few months he was building a deluxe wood shop at his Mesa home where he could enjoy his woodworking.
Albert was preceded in death by his devoted wife Billie Jean who passed away in December 2010 and eldest daughter Terrell Thomas Harmon who passed away June 2015. A small service for family and friends will be held January 29, 2016, at 1:30 p.m. at Mountain View Funeral Chapel, 7900 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85207. Internment for Albert and his wife will be in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Hawaii. In lieu of flowers, Albert asked that contributions be made to the Wounded Warrior Project for his fellow military brethren.