Monroe Cornelius Thomas Sr.

Monroe Cornelius Thomas Sr., “Sonny or Big Sonny”, age 68, of Dayton, OH, departed this earthly life Saturday, October 12, 2024 at Hospice at the Dayton VAMC.  He was born in San Bernadino, CA on March 4, 956 to the late Willie Mae Lewis (later Townsend). After spending the better part of three decades back and forth between Cali & Dayton, he decided to make Dayton, OH his permanent home in 2003.

Monroe Sr. graduate from Pacific High School, in San Bernadino, CA, class of 1974.  He proudly served his country in both the United States Army and Air Force for nearly 11 years where he met the love of his life, Carolyn Y. Herring, with whom he has one child, Monroe “Sonny’ Jr. and married 1 year later.  After 27 years of marriage, they went on to divorce in 2013 but remained good friends.  In late 2023, Monroe Sr. retired from his career at the Dayton VAMC.

Monroe Sr. is preceded in death by his loving mother, Willie Mae Townsend (Lewis); sister, Bobbie Jean Pennington, Eunita Carolyn Ann Morton; brother, Byron Zachary; uncle, J.C. Lewis; nephew, Donta Morton; and several other aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.

He is survived by his one and only son, Monroe “Sonny” Cornelius Thomas Jr. (Trena); siblings, Cardell Shakir, Wanda J. Grace (Wardell) all of California and Beverly Brown of Kansas; one granddaughter, Constance Dee Thomas; two bonus grandsons, Christopher Polly Jr. and Christian Polly all of Dayton, OH; along with a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

Funeral service 11:00 am Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at House of Wheat Funeral Home, 2107 N. Gettysburg Ave., Dayton, OH. Visitation 9 am-11 am. Family will receive friends from 10 am-11 am. Interment Dayton National Cemetery.

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