Donald G. Thomas82, of Brownsburg, Indiana, and formerly of Kokomo, Indiana, passed away September 15, 2017, surrounded by family.  The son of the late John Edward and Iris (Lofton) Thomas, Sr., Don was born on January 6, 1935, at home in a four room house in Crittenden County, Kentucky.  On July 4, 1953, he married his high school sweetheart, Velma "Louise" King, in the Marion United Methodist Church, in Marion, Kentucky, and she survives.Don graduated from Evansville College with a Bachelors in Business in 1956. After graduation, Don served in the United States Air Force, from 1956 to 1962, and then served in the Indiana Air National Guard.  During his service in the Air Force, he went to Flight School and flew a variety of planes. Less than ten years after he had walked a plow behind a mule, Don exceeded the speed of sound in an F-86 Sabre.Following his Air Force service, Don became owner of the Howard County Equipment Company in Kokomo, Indiana, a John Deere dealership, from 1962 to 1982, followed by commercial real estate sales from 1983 to 1989 and public relations for Kirby Risk Supply until his retirement in 1999.  Upon retirement, he and Louise spent a lot of time between their home in Sarasota, Florida, their cabin in Kentucky and their home in Indiana.He was a member of Shiloh United Methodist Church, in Kokomo, for 48 years, where he served on numerous committees and as a Lay Speaker.  He also attended the Church of the Palms in Sarasota, Florida, was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church in Brownsburg, and had recently re-joined his childhood home church, Marion United Methodist Church, in Marion, Kentucky.Don was a charter member and first President of the Northwestern Lions Club, President of the Kokomo Chamber of Commerce, Rotarian, and served on the boards of St. Joseph Hospital, First National Bank and the Grissom Community Council.  He also served on the Ivy Tech Foundation Board from 1996 to 2013, which included a term as Chairman of the Board, was awarded an honorary degree from Ivy Tech in 2001 and was recognized as the Ivy Tech Community College's Benefactor of the Year in 2005. In recognition of Don and Louise's generosity, the recently remodeled Student Commons at the Ivy Tech campus in Kokomo has been named for them.His passions included flying, golf, his cabin in Kentucky, people, but most of all, family.  Don's biggest joy in life was his family.  Everyone he met heard about his children and grandchildren.  Don believed that strangers were friends in the making, and he loved getting to know people from all walks of life and had a gift of making everyone feel special.  He especially had a passion for education and encouraged everyone he met to better themselves through education.  Many people who met him throughout the years will remember him asking, "What is your 5-year plan?"  Don spoke frequently of the importance of having faith, family and friends in one's life.In addition to his wife of 64 years, he is survived by his children, Denise (Marty) Wagner, Brownsburg, Guy (Kathy) Thomas, Brownsburg, Miriam Thomas, Kokomo, and Aaron (Barb) Thomas, Brownsburg; seven grandchildren, Jared Thomas, Samantha Wagner, Rachel Demerly and husband Ethan, Allison Wagner, Noah Thomas, Lydia Thomas and Grant Thomas; and great-granddaughter, Nora Demerly. His brother John Thomas Jr. preceded him in death.Friends are invited to visit with the family from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 21, 2017, at Shiloh United Methodist Church, 5741 W. 100 N., Kokomo.  A celebration of life service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, September 23, 2017, at Gilbert Funeral Home, 117 W. Bellville St., Marion, Kentucky, followed by a graveside committal service, with visitation beginning at 1 pm.    In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ivy Tech Foundation, Don and Louise Thomas Scholarship, P.O. Box 1373, Kokomo, IN 46903, or the Marion United Methodist Church, stained glass window project, 112 S. College St., Marion, KY 42064.  Stout & Son Funeral Home, Russiaville, Indiana, assisted the family with arrangements.  Messages of condolence may be expressed online at www.stoutandson.com.