Willie L. Thomas, Jr., 83, born November 4, 1935 in Palmetto, Florida went home to be with the Lord on the morning of January 6, 2019. Elder Thomas, a retired pastor and founder of Royal Abiding Family Ministries helped others through his works and relationships with individuals, families, clergy, and faith organizations in the community. Elder Thomas led many to Christ. He retired from The Ohio State University as a systems analyst. Computer systems analysis and math were his specialty areas. He was also an entrepreneur. During his life he was a volunteer (Big Brother as a young father) and later in church ministries, teacher, mentor, counselor, and confidante to many. He was preceded in death by parents Willie L. Thomas, Sr. and Beulah Thomas (Moore), wife Diane Wiley Thomas and brother Franklin Delano Thomas. Father of eight children, five by first wife Janette Sales and three children by marriage to Diane Thomas. Survived by brother, Bobby L. Thomas and sister, Christine Thomas Smith(Al) ; children, Willette (Nate) Crawford, Dana (Chris)Trower, Ava Thomas (John Foster), W. Isaac Thomas, Lena Dodley, Tonya (LV) Jones, Tina (Rock) Craft and Kenneth W. Keels; 14 grandchildren, 20 great grand-children; cousin, Lorene Campbell-Byrd; special friends Charles Clark, Arthur Hill Sr; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.