Obituary of Daniel E. Thomas

Age 90, born in Long Beach, CA, only child of Henry (Harry) A. Thomas and Jessie A. Prall) Thomas. Died in Santa Barbara, CA of complications of pneumonia after a series of small strokes that started in 2001. His family moved to San Bernardino when Dan was five. He attended school there from kindergarten through San Bernardino Valley College when World War II interrupted his education. He was inducted into the Army on November 7, 1942 and by luck was assigned to the medical corps. Following his discharge on February 18, 1946, he learned that the State of California was starting a new program, State Disability Insurance. His Army training prepared him for this work, which began on October 27, 1946 as a claims examiner in San Bernardino. Thirty seven years later he retired as District Manager for Orange County, CA. Dan met the love of his life, Beverly L. Johns, on a blind date while both were in college. They married on December 19, 1943. She shared his love of ballroom dancing and they danced through life until his first stroke in 2001. She shared his other interests of sports, travel and genealogy. Besides his wife, Dan leaves behind daughter Linda Loya (husband Ric), daughter Janet Brinckmann (former husband Rolf), two grandchildren Erik Brinckmann and Katrina Homerick (husband Dan), and great-granddaughter Lily Ana. A private family graveside service will be held. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 909 North La Cumbre Rd., Santa Barbara, CA, 93110. Or in his name to FACT Foundation, Vista del Monte, 3775 Modoc Rd., Santa Barbara, CA, 93105; in the lower left corner of a check indicate this for the Residents Fund.