John Bertrum Thomas

1941 - 2025

John Bertrum Thomas

Oct 30, 1941 - Jun 20, 2025

Obituary for John Bertrum Thomas

October 30, 1941 to June 20, 2025

John Bertrum Thomas, age 83, passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 20, 2025, at his

home in Roswell, Georgia, with his beloved wife and daughter by his side. A devoted husband,

father, grandfather, educator, and lifelong learner, John lived a life rich in purpose, curiosity, and

compassion.

Born on October 30, 1941, John was raised in North Carolina and graduated from Griffith High

School in 1960. He earned his undergraduate degree from Western Carolina University in 1964.

He shortly thereafter served in the Peace Corps in Turkey from 1964 to 1966, an experience that

profoundly shaped his worldview and sparked a lifelong love for Turkish culture and

international service. He went on to pursue graduate studies in history at the University of

Tennessee and later earned his Master of Librarianship from Emory University in 1972.

John dedicated over 25 years to Davidson-Davie Community College, where he served as Dean

of Learning Resources from 1973 to 1993 and as Dean of the Davie County satellite campus until

his retirement in 1999. Throughout his career, he inspired students and colleagues alike with his

deep intellect, unshakable integrity, and steadfast commitment to education.

John was an insatiable reader and a lover of books, history, politics, and world affairs. He found

joy in vegetable gardening, beekeeping, and road cycling, completing challenging rides along

the Natchez Trace, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and across the state of North Carolina on two

occasions. A lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, he could recite players' names and stats from

memory and never missed an opening day. He was a man of quiet passions, with a particular

soft spot for German Shepherds and cats of every kind. He was never happier than when he

had a book in hand and a cat in his lap.

He was a faithful member of New Philadelphia Moravian Church in Winston-Salem and held a

strong interest in humanitarian causes, global politics, and cultural understanding. He fiercely

defended the underdog, held deep respect for people of all religions and backgrounds, and

believed wholeheartedly in equality and dignity for all.John was preceded in death by his mother, Sarah Blanche Parks Thomas; his father, Bertrum

Edmund Thomas; and his brothers, Hughey E. Thomas and A.P. Thomas.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Peggy Weems Thomas; his son, Johnathan Matthew

Thomas (Kennette Ruth Lawrence Thomas); his daughter, Sarah Catherine Thomas Keane (Sean

D. Keane); and his cherished granddaughter, Vivienne Parks Keane.

John's legacy lives on in the lives he touched, marked by wit, wisdom, humility, and heart. He

will be remembered for his quiet strength, endless curiosity, and unwavering love for his family

and the world around him.

A Gathering of Remembrance will be held by the family on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at 5 p.m.

at the Excelsior Manor House in Tanglewood Park. Kindly RSVP to

mailto:jbthomasgatheringofremembrance@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be

made in his honor at https://secure.givelively.org/donate/bridge-to-turkiye/john-bertram-thomas-memorial-fund