Ryland C. "Tommy" Thomas, Jr.

Ryland C. "Tommy" Thomas passed over to be with our Lord & Savior on Wednesday, November 23, 2011. Tommy was born in Bedford, Virginia, December 7, 1939, and spent his childhood in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Haskell, Oklahoma, with his parents Ryland & Bertie and sisters Eliza & Ann.

Upon graduation from high school, he entered the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed in New Smyrna Beach, FL. Upon discharge, he returned home to Springdale, Arkansas, where he attended the University of Arkansas, graduating with a degree in Business. Tommy became a member of the Arkansas Razorback Marching Band, Acacia Fraternity, and a was a lifelong fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks.

After graduation, he moved to Houston, TX, where he began his career in the food industry with the Fleming Company as a store engineer, and met his first wife Janise, later moving to Minneapolis, MN, entering the restaurant business, and where his son Jason was born. He relocated to Sacramento, CA, to become a restaurant owner/operator with Loves BBQ, then onto being an entrepreneur in the food service industry when he opened his own restaurant, Babes, and where his daughter Eliza was born. Tommy became famous for his baby-back ribs, winning the best rib in Sacramento. He was active in Rotary, Skating Club of Sacramento. and Fair Oaks Presbyterian.

Tommy was an avid bicyclist, participating in his first major 25-day ride in 1985, the Pacific Coast Bicycle Trek, raising money for the American Lung Association. He first came to Iowa in 1992 to ride RAGBRAI with his Team Moore-On. He often said, “If you ever wanted to run away and join the circus, coming to RAGBRAI was as close as you get.” In 1995, he participated in the Iowa 150 Bike Ride across America, where he met his wife Pam and many lifelong friends. Tommy moved to Iowa in 1996 and became a realtor with Iowa Realty at the Jordan Grove office, developing lifelong friendships. Tommy & Pam married in 1997, and moved to their current home, becoming close friends with neighbors Les & Kathie Heimsoth & family, who loved biking. Tommy & Pam have done numerous bike rides with biking friends in several states in the US over the years and biked in Australia in 2000. Tommy fulfilled a lifelong dream in July 2010, when he & Pam went to Europe to see the Tour De France and was excited to have a day in London with son Jason, Kristen, Lola, Rose and Scott & Maggie Simplot. Tommy was active in Rotary, Promise Keepers, Valley Church and Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines.

Survivors include his wife, Pamela Thomas; sisters, Eliza (Gary) Ace of Emporia, KS, Ann (Rob) Crowe of Canton, GA; son, Jason (Kristin) Thomas of Durango CO; daughter, Eliza (Billy) Hubbard of Sacramento, CA; granddaughters, Lola and Rose Thomas of Durango, CO; cousins, Johnny (Glynis) Hopkins and Billy (Dorinda) Hopkins of Bedford, VA; and several nieces and nephews. Also surviving are his furry companions, Nala, Winnie, Tigger and Dewey (Tommy's boy).

Tommy & Pam loved to bike the Raccoon River Bike Trail with friends, riding to breakfast, or stopping for a tasty beverage in Waukee. In lieu of flowers, we would like donations made to Dallas County Conservation Foundation, noting in honor of the Tommy Thomas Memorial Bench, which will be installed in the Spring on the bike trail he loved so much. If mailing donations, send to Dallas County Conservation Foundation, 14581 K Ave. Perry, Iowa 50220. And, Tommy was an avid supporter of the LIVESTRONG Cancer Society, always wearing the yellow LIVESTRONG band. You may choose to send memorial contributions in honor of Tommy Thomas made payable to THE GREATER DES MOINES LIVESTRONG ARMY. If mailing donations, send to THE GREATER DES MOINES LIVESTRONG ARMY, P.O Box 1182, Johnston, Iowa 50131.

Online condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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