Colonel (Retired) Kent D. Thomas passed away on March 15, 2024. Born in San Antonio, Texas, Colonel Thomas grew up as the son of an Air Force officer and later served for 24 years as an officer in the United States Army. He received his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University in 1974, and master's degrees from Purdue University in 1983 and from the School for Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth in 1988. While in the Army, Colonel Thomas served in the 2d Battalion, 77th Armor, 9th Infantry Division, 3d Battalion, 32d Armor, 3d Armored Division, V Corps headquarters, and the 1st Infantry Division. He commanded the 3d Battalion, 37th Armor and the Army Garrison at Fort Riley. He graduated from the United States Army War College in 1995.

Colonel Thomas retired from active duty in 1998 and worked within the Missouri State University system for 18 years, serving as the Vice President for Administrative Services in Springfield, Chancellor for Missouri State University West Plains for five years, as an assistant to the system president in Springfield, and in International Programs for 18 years.

Following his retirement from MSU, Colonel Thomas served as the Executive Director for the Leonard Wood Institute and Sustainable Ozarks Partnership for three years.

Colonel Thomas is survived by the light of his life, his wife Barbara. Married soon after he graduated from college, they spent their lives enjoying each day together, grateful for the opportunity to live so many different places, meet so many wonderful people, and most importantly, do it together. Additional survivors include his sister Kay Matthews and her husband Richard; daughter Valerie Hamlin and husband J.B. of Kirksville, Missouri, son Andrew Thomas and wife Whitney of Fort Leavenworth, and six grandchildren, Ava and Lauren Hamlin of Kirksville, MO and Austin, Jane, Eleanor and Willa Thomas of Ft. Leavenworth.

Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, March 22, 2024 at Schweitzer Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Schweitzer Church, 2747 E Sunshine St, Springfield, MO 65804, Wounder Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516, or the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 E Ohio Street Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60611.