William Thomas

William Douglas Thomas of Stevensville died Wednesday, July 9, 2003 at the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, MD. He was 41. Doug’s untimely death was due to an accident on September 16, 2001 at 10:45 a.m. Thomas, along with other firefighters, were responding to a reported boat fire at the Kent Island Yacht Club in Chester, MD. While en-route to that call, the fire engine that Thomas was driving left the roadway, struck a utility pole, overturned and came to rest on the roadway. Thomas was transported to the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Thomas suffered a serious spinal injury as a result of the accident. Born on October 21, 1961 in Easton, MD, he was the son of Percy Dyes and Anna Thomas and grandson of one of the Charter Founding Members of the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department. In 1977, when Mr. Thomas turned 16, the age when he could join the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, he did so and was considered a valued member. Mr. Thomas was a member and adviser for the Queen Anne’s County Fire Chief’s Association. During his volunteer career of more than twenty-five years, 2nd Assistant Chief Thomas held numerous positions within the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, including the rank of Chief. He designed and led the committees that purchased the state of the art fire equipment that the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department is now operating and was a member of the Board of Directors. Always known for being one of the first firefighters to the station, he consistently was a top ten responder for the department. He made the time to help the younger members with any problems they may have had and gave them a helping hand with learning to be valued members of their departments. The following is a list of the positions Mr. Thomas has held in the department: 1985-1986 Elected Sergeant, 1986-1987 Elected Lieutenant, 1988-1989 Elected Captain, 1990-1997 Elected 2nd Assistant Chief, 1998-2000 Elected Chief, 2001 Elected 2nd Assistant Chief, 2002 Elected Member Board of Directors. Doug is survived by his beloved wife, Renee M. Thomas; his parents Percy Dyes and Anna Thomas; his children Samantha Deighan, Jessica Phaneuf, David Phaneuf, Justin Thomas, Mathew Gellert and a grandson Collin Deighan. Predeceased by Maude & Alfred Thomas whom was a charter member of the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department. Funeral services will be held 11AM Monday, July 14, 2003 at the Kent Island United Methodist Church in Chester, MD. Family and friends may call at the church on Sunday July 13, 2003 from 3PM to 5PM and 7PM to 9PM. Interment will be in Stevensville Cemetery in Stevensville, MD. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to University of Maryland Medical System Foundation, Inc., c/o Shock Trauma Neuro Trauma Fund, P.O. Box 64573, Baltimore, MD 21201.