William Wade Thomas, lovingly known as “Willy” passed away on January 18, 2024, at the age of 55. He passed in the comfort of his home, surrounded by loved ones after a courageous battle with cancer. Willy began his life on November 2, 1968, and lived most of his life in Hendricks County, Indiana, and was a proud graduate of Plainfield High School with the class of 1987. William is survived by a host of loving family and friends, including his mother Karen Westfall and stepfather Robert Westfall of Avon, Indiana; brother Brian Thomas (wife, Trish) of Monrovia, Indiana; daughter Katherine (Thomas) Jackson (husband, Matt) of Sheridan, Indiana; stepdaughter Amanda (Boles) Rosner (husband, Sean) of Monrovia, Indiana; son Andrew Thomas of Avon, Indiana; three grandchildren Willow, Waylon and Lillian; life partner Lori Brewer, of Indianapolis, Indiana; and former spouse Sheila (Speckman) Thomas of Avon, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his father Steven B. Thomas of Plainfield, Indiana. Willy started working at Starken Printing in Plainfield, Indiana, while still in high school and continued there until its closure in 2016. He continued working in the printing profession at Herff Jones until 2020 when he changed careers to work with his best friend renovating and remodeling houses.
Willy was very talented in many things and was known for helping everyone around whether that was making furniture and other unique handmade items, working on cars, mowing yards, hosting cookouts, making baked goods, etc., and most people will also mention that he was very silly and quite a prankster. Willy’s love was undeniably cars. He lived and breathed cars and this included working on cars, collecting toy cars and other memorabilia, watching car shows on tv and movies about cars, attending (as a participant and/or spectator) car shows and auctions, racing, and “bench racing” with friends. Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life Memorial Gathering on Saturday, February 3rd from 12:00-3:00 p.m. at the Speedway V.F.W., 5139 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. Visitors are asked to enter through the side door. Friends are welcome to donate in Willy’s memory to the American Cancer Society, Morgan County Churches in Mission, or the Piston Foundation in lieu of flowers.