Offerings of relief in honor of our brave brother
Donation protected
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/arlington-tx/edward-thomas-9967603
Eddie passed away peacefully in his home on Friday, December 25, Christmas Day, with his wife Fatima and daughter Randi by his side, shortly after contracting Covid-19 during a long and courageous battle with Glioblastoma.
Being a father was Eddie’s proudest role in his life. He became a father on November 2, 1990, when his precious baby girl Randi was born. Randi and Eddie have a special daughter-father bond and people often remark that they look like twins.
In 2001, Eddie met the love of his life and soulmate, Fatima. A mutual musician friend introduced them to each other and it was love at first sight. They were inseparable from that day forward. Eddie and Fatima married in 2002 and spent 18 incredible years as husband and wife, having fun adventures and supporting each other’s aspirations, even living out a dream together playing in the rock band The Crash That Took Me. In 2019, on their 17th wedding anniversary, they renewed their wedding vows with family in attendance, a most joyous occasion.
Eddie worked many years in the business forms manufacturing industry in Arlington, Texas. Starting in warehousing and shipping at PrintEdd Products, he would go on to be a department manager and buyer for the plant. Years later Eddie changed industries, focusing on his talent for procurement. Those lucky enough to have worked with him over the years know that he was second to none in all that he undertook during his working days.
As a preteen, Eddie started playing drums in his bedroom, using pots and pans from the kitchen, and later was gifted with a drum set from his mother Carol who always supported his passion. He would practice countless hours in his bedroom, and eventually formed rock bands with friends as a young teenager. Eddie had a remarkable musical talent, and his love of drumming continued throughout his life with many musical projects, culminating in the work he did with Black Tie Dynasty and his final musical project Go Imperial. His final rock show was played in December 2019 during the midst of his brain cancer battle. It was a night that will be cherished for all time as a celebration of Eddie's extraordinary talent and his love of music and drumming.
Eddie was proudly sworn into service with the Texas State Guard in March 2010 as an E1/PV1 Private, and discharged from service in March 2015 as an E6/Staff Sergeant. Eddie’s primary assignment was in Civil Affairs 28B as a Civil Affairs Specialist, and secondary assignment was in the Honor Guard/Color Guard as the Honor Guard Non Commissioned Officer in Charge. Eddie served in the 4th Regiment (Panther City Fencibles), 2nd Battalion of the Texas State Guard. The Panther City Fencibles has existed since Post-Civil War in 1883 until 1898, and the Texas State Guard 4th Regiment reformed the Regiment in 1993 until the Casing of the Colors in February 2020. “Fencibles" (a shortening of defensible) is a special regiment raised for home defense. The mission of the Texas State Guard is to provide military forces to assist state and local authorities in times of state emergencies; to conduct homeland security and community service activities; and to augment the Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard. During his time in the Texas State Guard, Eddie received the following honors and awards: the Texas Meritorious Service Medal, multiple times awarded the Commanding General Individual Achievement Award, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development, Basic Orientation Training Ribbon, Physical Fitness Ribbon, Basic NCO Development, the Texas Service Medal, State Guard Association of the United States Ribbon, Certificate of Appreciation from the Command Sergeant Major Army Component for recognition during Change of Command Service, and Certificate of Appreciation from the Knights of Columbus for grateful appreciation for outstanding participation and show of patriotism during Fall Ceremonies. Eddie took such pride in his service in the Texas State Guard. He bestowed great honor upon his fellow soldiers by building up the Honor Guard/Color Guard, and in so doing served his fellow Texans by making the Texas State Guard's existence visible and known to the people of Texas. Staff Sergeant Thomas will be remembered for putting sacrifice to others first and for never compromising excellence in all that he did during his enlistment. The Texas State Guard was made better because of his dedicated service.
In addition to music and military service, some of Eddie’s interests included hockey, good beer, and cuddling with his pets.
Eddie touched countless lives in beautiful ways, encompassing a spirit of warmth, generosity and kindness that changed people for the better. The memories and lessons he leaves behind will never be forgotten, and Eddie's spirit endures within the hearts of all those blessed enough to know him. Above all, Eddie cared about everyone - family, friends, and even strangers.
Eddie is predeceased by his mother, Carol Jean Peters Thomas, in 2012.
Eddie is survived by his wife Fatima Stone Thomas; daughter Randi Marie Thomas; granddaughter Marilyn Rae Hess; father Roland Joseph Thomas; sisters Debra Anne Thomas-Zasadzinski and her husband Thomas Edward Zasadzinski, Pamela Elizabeth Thomas Soultaire Gilmer and her husband William Therrel Gilmer, Jr; nieces Rachel Erin Thomas Soultaire and Emily Elizabeth Thomas Soultaire; nephews John Thomas Zasadzinki and Joshua Alexander Roland Thomas; mother-in-law Tomi Stone-Davidson; brother-in-law Elias Stone Bransome; sister-in-law Kirsten Leah Jones; and family dog Mika Thomas.
Services will be held at Moore Memorial Gardens on Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 10:00am. Services will be live-streamed via Moore Funeral Home's Facebook page.
In lieu of flowers, donations on behalf of Eddie can be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation. Donations can be made here: www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate
Our beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, Eddie Thomas has been valiantly fighting stage 4 cancer for the last year, and we're sending out an S.O.S. to give him the support he and his family so very much need.
For those of you who know Eddie through the DFW music scene that he has drummed in with his heart and soul, including Black Tie Dynasty, The Crash That Took Me, and Go Imperial, you'll know how incredibly humble and kind-hearted he has always been. He has never declined the opportunity to lend a helping hand, ear, or back in order to make someone else's day a better one. His love for his wife, daughter, and granddaughter, not to mention his family, friends, and band mates is unfathomable and endless as is theirs
for him.
Though we live in a world of chaos and uncertainty, the one thing we can all be sure of is that Eddie will always be there for each and every one of us, no matter how sick he is. If you can find it in your heart to give a little bit of support to him and his family, he can continue to be the hero that we've always known him to be.
Below is a message from Eddie telling the story of how cancer has changed his life over the last year.
“Early in 2019, I started having some strange things happen, like severe headaches, dizziness, and short term memory problems. My wife, Fatima, was getting me in with different doctors to try to figure out what was going on. I saw a neurologist who ordered several tests for me.
As a result, I was scheduled for a brain MRI on March 9th, 2019. It was a beautiful Saturday morning, Fatima and I had plans to go to Ikea after the MRI, it was gonna be a great day.
After the MRI was completed, the MRI tech brought us a disc and advised us to get me to an ER immediately! Fatima and I were confused and scared by this point.
Within a couple of hours, I was admitted to the neuro ICU unit at Dallas Methodist Hospital and was told I had a 1” mass in the left temporal lobe of my brain and would have to undergo surgery to remove it. It felt completely surreal to me… I couldn’t believe what was happening.
On Tuesday March 12th, I had surgery to remove the tumor, and we learned within a short time that I have Glioblastoma – stage 4 brain cancer. BRAIN CANCER and the worst kind, seriously????
But I was ready to knock the cancer out, to do whatever I had to do to win this battle!! Over the next several months I underwent radiation and chemotherapy. My July, September, and November 2019 follow up MRI’s were all ok, meaning no sign of cancer return.
In Jan 2020, the MRI detected a new cancer tumor growing in the same area of my brain. Fatima did a lot of research and found 3 different potential clinical trials for me… we decided to go with a clinical trial at The Preston Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke in North Carolina.
In Feb 2020, I had surgery at Duke. This procedure infused my tumor with a genetically modified poliovirus, designed to wake up my immune system to kill the cancer.
Over the next year, Fatima and I will travel to Duke for follow up MRI’s so they can see how the treatment is working and help us manage treatment and medication side effects.
The medical treatment and loss of wages due to missed work has put a financial strain on me and my Fatima. I am not one to normally ask for or accept help, it is not an easy thing for me. I am so appreciative to anyone who reads my story and feels compelled to give. Any money received will be used for medical bills, travel expenses back n forth to Duke, and other expenses that we are unable to pay for due to missed work wages.
I continue my battle against Glioblastoma, every day I fight.
Eddie passed away peacefully in his home on Friday, December 25, Christmas Day, with his wife Fatima and daughter Randi by his side, shortly after contracting Covid-19 during a long and courageous battle with Glioblastoma.
Being a father was Eddie’s proudest role in his life. He became a father on November 2, 1990, when his precious baby girl Randi was born. Randi and Eddie have a special daughter-father bond and people often remark that they look like twins.
In 2001, Eddie met the love of his life and soulmate, Fatima. A mutual musician friend introduced them to each other and it was love at first sight. They were inseparable from that day forward. Eddie and Fatima married in 2002 and spent 18 incredible years as husband and wife, having fun adventures and supporting each other’s aspirations, even living out a dream together playing in the rock band The Crash That Took Me. In 2019, on their 17th wedding anniversary, they renewed their wedding vows with family in attendance, a most joyous occasion.
Eddie worked many years in the business forms manufacturing industry in Arlington, Texas. Starting in warehousing and shipping at PrintEdd Products, he would go on to be a department manager and buyer for the plant. Years later Eddie changed industries, focusing on his talent for procurement. Those lucky enough to have worked with him over the years know that he was second to none in all that he undertook during his working days.
As a preteen, Eddie started playing drums in his bedroom, using pots and pans from the kitchen, and later was gifted with a drum set from his mother Carol who always supported his passion. He would practice countless hours in his bedroom, and eventually formed rock bands with friends as a young teenager. Eddie had a remarkable musical talent, and his love of drumming continued throughout his life with many musical projects, culminating in the work he did with Black Tie Dynasty and his final musical project Go Imperial. His final rock show was played in December 2019 during the midst of his brain cancer battle. It was a night that will be cherished for all time as a celebration of Eddie's extraordinary talent and his love of music and drumming.
Eddie was proudly sworn into service with the Texas State Guard in March 2010 as an E1/PV1 Private, and discharged from service in March 2015 as an E6/Staff Sergeant. Eddie’s primary assignment was in Civil Affairs 28B as a Civil Affairs Specialist, and secondary assignment was in the Honor Guard/Color Guard as the Honor Guard Non Commissioned Officer in Charge. Eddie served in the 4th Regiment (Panther City Fencibles), 2nd Battalion of the Texas State Guard. The Panther City Fencibles has existed since Post-Civil War in 1883 until 1898, and the Texas State Guard 4th Regiment reformed the Regiment in 1993 until the Casing of the Colors in February 2020. “Fencibles" (a shortening of defensible) is a special regiment raised for home defense. The mission of the Texas State Guard is to provide military forces to assist state and local authorities in times of state emergencies; to conduct homeland security and community service activities; and to augment the Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard. During his time in the Texas State Guard, Eddie received the following honors and awards: the Texas Meritorious Service Medal, multiple times awarded the Commanding General Individual Achievement Award, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development, Basic Orientation Training Ribbon, Physical Fitness Ribbon, Basic NCO Development, the Texas Service Medal, State Guard Association of the United States Ribbon, Certificate of Appreciation from the Command Sergeant Major Army Component for recognition during Change of Command Service, and Certificate of Appreciation from the Knights of Columbus for grateful appreciation for outstanding participation and show of patriotism during Fall Ceremonies. Eddie took such pride in his service in the Texas State Guard. He bestowed great honor upon his fellow soldiers by building up the Honor Guard/Color Guard, and in so doing served his fellow Texans by making the Texas State Guard's existence visible and known to the people of Texas. Staff Sergeant Thomas will be remembered for putting sacrifice to others first and for never compromising excellence in all that he did during his enlistment. The Texas State Guard was made better because of his dedicated service.
In addition to music and military service, some of Eddie’s interests included hockey, good beer, and cuddling with his pets.
Eddie touched countless lives in beautiful ways, encompassing a spirit of warmth, generosity and kindness that changed people for the better. The memories and lessons he leaves behind will never be forgotten, and Eddie's spirit endures within the hearts of all those blessed enough to know him. Above all, Eddie cared about everyone - family, friends, and even strangers.
Eddie is predeceased by his mother, Carol Jean Peters Thomas, in 2012.
Eddie is survived by his wife Fatima Stone Thomas; daughter Randi Marie Thomas; granddaughter Marilyn Rae Hess; father Roland Joseph Thomas; sisters Debra Anne Thomas-Zasadzinski and her husband Thomas Edward Zasadzinski, Pamela Elizabeth Thomas Soultaire Gilmer and her husband William Therrel Gilmer, Jr; nieces Rachel Erin Thomas Soultaire and Emily Elizabeth Thomas Soultaire; nephews John Thomas Zasadzinki and Joshua Alexander Roland Thomas; mother-in-law Tomi Stone-Davidson; brother-in-law Elias Stone Bransome; sister-in-law Kirsten Leah Jones; and family dog Mika Thomas.
Services will be held at Moore Memorial Gardens on Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 10:00am. Services will be live-streamed via Moore Funeral Home's Facebook page.
In lieu of flowers, donations on behalf of Eddie can be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation. Donations can be made here: www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate
Our beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, Eddie Thomas has been valiantly fighting stage 4 cancer for the last year, and we're sending out an S.O.S. to give him the support he and his family so very much need.
For those of you who know Eddie through the DFW music scene that he has drummed in with his heart and soul, including Black Tie Dynasty, The Crash That Took Me, and Go Imperial, you'll know how incredibly humble and kind-hearted he has always been. He has never declined the opportunity to lend a helping hand, ear, or back in order to make someone else's day a better one. His love for his wife, daughter, and granddaughter, not to mention his family, friends, and band mates is unfathomable and endless as is theirs
for him.
Though we live in a world of chaos and uncertainty, the one thing we can all be sure of is that Eddie will always be there for each and every one of us, no matter how sick he is. If you can find it in your heart to give a little bit of support to him and his family, he can continue to be the hero that we've always known him to be.
Below is a message from Eddie telling the story of how cancer has changed his life over the last year.
“Early in 2019, I started having some strange things happen, like severe headaches, dizziness, and short term memory problems. My wife, Fatima, was getting me in with different doctors to try to figure out what was going on. I saw a neurologist who ordered several tests for me.
As a result, I was scheduled for a brain MRI on March 9th, 2019. It was a beautiful Saturday morning, Fatima and I had plans to go to Ikea after the MRI, it was gonna be a great day.
After the MRI was completed, the MRI tech brought us a disc and advised us to get me to an ER immediately! Fatima and I were confused and scared by this point.
Within a couple of hours, I was admitted to the neuro ICU unit at Dallas Methodist Hospital and was told I had a 1” mass in the left temporal lobe of my brain and would have to undergo surgery to remove it. It felt completely surreal to me… I couldn’t believe what was happening.
On Tuesday March 12th, I had surgery to remove the tumor, and we learned within a short time that I have Glioblastoma – stage 4 brain cancer. BRAIN CANCER and the worst kind, seriously????
But I was ready to knock the cancer out, to do whatever I had to do to win this battle!! Over the next several months I underwent radiation and chemotherapy. My July, September, and November 2019 follow up MRI’s were all ok, meaning no sign of cancer return.
In Jan 2020, the MRI detected a new cancer tumor growing in the same area of my brain. Fatima did a lot of research and found 3 different potential clinical trials for me… we decided to go with a clinical trial at The Preston Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke in North Carolina.
In Feb 2020, I had surgery at Duke. This procedure infused my tumor with a genetically modified poliovirus, designed to wake up my immune system to kill the cancer.
Over the next year, Fatima and I will travel to Duke for follow up MRI’s so they can see how the treatment is working and help us manage treatment and medication side effects.
The medical treatment and loss of wages due to missed work has put a financial strain on me and my Fatima. I am not one to normally ask for or accept help, it is not an easy thing for me. I am so appreciative to anyone who reads my story and feels compelled to give. Any money received will be used for medical bills, travel expenses back n forth to Duke, and other expenses that we are unable to pay for due to missed work wages.
I continue my battle against Glioblastoma, every day I fight.
Organizer and beneficiary
Beau Wagener
Organizer
Dallas, TX
Fatima Thomas
Beneficiary
