John William Thomason passed away at Queen of the Valley Hospital on June 16, after a long battle with heart disease and kidney failure. He was 86.
Thomason was born and raised in Berlin, Maryland, to Hettie and John Thomason, Sr. From 1953 to 1957 he served in the Navy and received both the National Defense and Good Conduct Medals.
After a few years in Southern California where he attended Orange Coast College, he moved to Sonoma Valley where he raised his family and worked as a distributor for Safeguard Business Systems.
He is credited by many as having helped pilots Ron Price and John Carmichael save the Sonoma Skypark airport on Eighth Street East in 1986, and being generous with both his planes and his good humor.
Pilot friend Darrel Jones said that he can’t remember a time that Thomason was not smiling.
“Probably only when the Skypark Board of Directors raised the rent, and then only for a short time until he once again began talking about airplanes, flying and his love of sharing his passion with everyone he met,” said Jones. “He enjoyed life on his terms, including sitting in his hangar smoking a good cigar and visiting with whoever happened by.”
Thomason is survived by stepsons Cory and Jeff, sons John C. and Scott, daughter Erin, grandsons Cooper and Ben, and granddaughters Claire and Ella.
Private services will be held.
Donations may be made to the Young Eagles program at eaa.org.
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