“The only people for me are the mad
ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad
to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of
everything at the same time, the ones
who never yawn or say a commonplace thing,
but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow
roman candles exploding like spiders
across the stars.” - Jack Kerouac
Obituary
Harold Woodrow “Woody” Thomas II Born on October 31, 1965 Entered Paradise on August 6, 2024
Harold Woodrow Thomas II was named after his beloved grandfather, but he was and will forever be known as Woody. Born to Donald H. and Shirley R. (Horn) Thomas at Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Illinois, Woody was their youngest and only son. He moved with his family from Illinois as a toddler to Germany, then as a young child to San Antonio, Texas where he attended Clear Spring Elementary, Krueger Middle School, MacArthur High School, and San Antonio College.
Woody was known for his fun-loving personality, comical voices, animated joke-telling, love of all things Avengers, Marvel, D.C., Star Trek, Dr. Who, and his big, kind heart. He made friends easily and maintained friendships from childhood. As an adult, he traveled around Europe and made memories he loved sharing with family and friends through stories and pictures.
Woody fell hard for his one and only, his truest love, Sarah Jane Broadmeadow, a native of Wolverhampton, England. He traveled to the UK to court her. Not long after that, Sarah traveled to Woody’s home city to be with him always. They married on December 23, 2007. Even well into the second decade of marriage Woody remained in the honeymoon phase, almost always referring to Sarah as “my beautiful bride” or some similar sentiment when speaking about her.
Though he had no children of his own, Woody had a tremendous influence on his nieces and nephews. He was never called ‘Uncle Woody’. He was simply ‘Uncle’, a word that, for them, encompassed uncle, confidant, friend, playmate, father-figure, and love. He played a significant role in all of their lives, from spoiling his oldest nieces and nephew with time, energy, and fun, to being there for the youngest niece and nephew by helping to raise them and nurture them, teaching them important life lessons along the way. His very young nephews in England had a special bond with him as well.
Woody enjoyed his work team at Spectrum. He wore his goofiest shirts, indulged in every opportunity for funny dress up or costume days - he always went the extra mile to impress and/or garner laughs. Making people laugh and feel good was what he was best at. He walked into work rooms and meetings with a boisterous “Hey there, boys and girls, it’s Uncle Woody!” His work shift buddies and team feel his loss deeply.
Woody was preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, his father-in-law David Broadmeadow, his best friend/brother from another mother Leonard Farrow, and his sweet fur-daughter, Lily. He is survived by his wife Sarah Thomas, sisters and brothers in law MaryJane and Charles Harrison, Donna and Rick Raser, Gale and Donald Webster, his nieces and their spouses Joli and Jenn Ransom and their children Benni, Dani, Ian, Nicholas, and William, Kimberly and Eric Shaw and their children Riley and Juliana, Carola “Carly” and Colin Castillo and their children David and Robyn, nephews Robert “Robby” Christiansen, and Donald “Doni” Bourke, Uncle Hilman Ray and Aunt Sally Horn, Aunt Thelma Jean Cremeans, Uncle Terry and Aunt Jerilyn Thomas, Aunt Connie and Uncle Frank Klobucar, mother-in-law Jane Broadmeadow, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Helen and Chris Jennings and their children Dylan and Daniel. He also leaves behind many cousins, friends, and his furry children Bella, Trouble, and Jenny Wren.
Woody donated regularly to St Jude Children’s Hospital. Please consider donating in his name.
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