Willie A. Thomas, owner of Thomas Land Clearing Company, passed away in his Apple Valley, CA, home on June 3, 2023. He was a very special man.

Born on June 9, 1949, in Birmingham, Alabama, to the union of Walter and Nellie Thomas, Willie was the fourth of six children and grew up in a small community called Blounts. There he made lifelong friends.  He graduated from Western-Olin High school and served his country during the Vietnam era in the United States Air Force from June 10, 1966, and was honorably discharged on March 13, 1970.  He was stationed at Minot AFB in North Dakota and Manilla AFB in the Philippines.

Later, he moved to Long Beach, California where he lived for most of his life. There he raised his family, continued his education to receive an AA degree from Long Beach City college and started his business, Thomas Land Clearing Company.  He built his company on honesty, character, and integrity. His contracts were public and private, large and small, and always committed to doing the very best, hence his motto “Jesdbes”.   He was known as an honest and fair businessman by his friends and business associates alike.

Willie enjoyed traveling and cooking, barbecuing, and especially fishing.   He traveled extensively – his favorite places to visit were Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerta Rico, and at the top of the list, Las Vegas, NV.

Fishing was his favorite hobby; he always wanted to catch the “Big one”. His favorite spot to fish was Cherry Beach in Long Beach, California.

He was proud of his cooking skills, in particular his favorite desserts - coconut cake and banana pudding. He was known for his many barbeques.  Friends, family, business partners and employees were accustomed to the barbeques he had for his workers at the close of each project.

Willie was a giant of a man – he occupied the space and moment he was in.   To his parents, he was a dutiful son.  His mother was the world to him. To his brothers and sisters, he was a loyal brother, generous and ever-loving.  To his nieces and nephews, he was more than an uncle, he was an integral part of their lives, telling them ghost stories when they were young and sharing fatherly advice and instructions with them as they grew older.

To his wife and children, he was a dedicated husband and father, who with love, took interest in every aspect of their lives. He adored his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and they adored him.

Willie is preceded in death by his parents, Walter Thomas and Nellie Bouyer; brother, Joe Lewis Duncan, Jr; son Albritton Thomas and granddaughter Ahjah Melton.   He leaves to mourn his faithful and beloved wife of thirty-six years, Josefina; children - LaTonya Thomas, Jose Thomas, and Nellie Thomas; grandchildren- Tatiana Thomas, Tamyra Thomas, Kaleb Thomas, Ayva Herrera and Mathew Munguia; great grandchildren Brynlee Powell and Blake Bryant; Brother-Walter Thomas (Sue), Sisters – Sherilyn Thomas, Debra Harris and Mary Thomas; Uncle-Josephus McClain and a host of other relatives and friends.

If, as some say, that at the end of your days you will see a passed loved one who will greet you and lead you into the light, then Willie saw his beloved mother, and raced toward her, and walked into the light. On June 3, 2023, the world lost a very special man.

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