William Adrian Thomas

William “Bill” Adrian Thomas, 87, of Toledo, Ohio, passed away on January 2, 2023, after a brief illness. He was born in Delaware, Ohio, on March 29, 1935, to his late parents, Harley and Bernice (Kentner) Thomas.

Bill was raised in Toledo, where he attended DeVilbiss High School, but he was particularly proud of his time at Nathan Hale Elementary School. Bill regaled his family with stories of breaking every athletic record there, even in sports that had yet to be invented. Bill attended Ohio State University and was a proud member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Until the very end of his life, he remained in close contact with his fraternity brother and friend, Doug Wimmer.

In 1957, Bill married his highschool sweetheart, Mary Louise Heinl, and the couple lived in Columbus, while he finished his degree and she worked for the telephone company. After graduating, he and Mary returned to Toledo, where Bill went to work with his dad who had started Thomas Insurance Agency. He and Mary got an apartment at “Hampshire Heights,” near-by his sister, Barb, and brother-in-law, Graham. Bill and Mary started a family with the arrival of Michael, followed by Peggy and then Katie. They moved to Ottawa Hills in the mid-1960’s, where they raised three “Green Bears.”

When his father passed away unexpectedly, in 1965, Bill took over the family business. Though he felt ill-prepared, he maintained and gradually grew Thomas Insurance Agency. He was forever grateful to loyal clients who placed their trust in him, and he grew the business in the decades to come, before partnering with Brooks Insurance Agency in 1982.

In 1971, Bill and Mary bought a summer home at Clear Lake, Indiana. From then on, summers were spent in bare feet and cut-off shorts. Clear Lake was, and remains, a wonderful place, filled with happy family memories. The couple spent increasing time in Naples, Florida and purchased a home there in 1996. After he was widowed, Bill spent much of his time there, welcoming Mike and Katie and their families on many trips, over many years. In 2019, at the age of 84, Bill returned to Toledo and made a new home at the Woodlands. What he lost in “good weather,” he gained in time spent with his grandsons. He earned a nearly perfect attendance award at baseball, basketball, lacrosse and soccer games. He remained active himself, tending to his yards, walking his dog Coco, and exercising at the gym.

Bill is survived by his son, Michael (Wendy) Thomas, and daughter, Katharine Talbott; grandchildren, Jennifer Thomas, Truman Talbott, Harley Talbott, Archie Talbott; niece, Sharie Watts. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Thomas; daughter, Peggy Thomas; and sister, Barbara (Graham) Watts.

Bill was a generous, dependable family man, with a fun-loving spirit. We will miss him.

Stay forever cool, Willie.

Friends are welcome to attend Bill’s Memorial Gathering on Friday, January 6, 2023, at Plat 8 in Toledo, from 3-6 p.m. Interment will be private.

Bill suggested that any donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or the Wounded Warrior Project, and his family have added Hospice of Northwest Ohio, who provided wonderful care to him in his final days.