Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

John Wood Thomas passed away on November 20, 2023. He was born in Chattanooga, Tenn., on March 24, 1947 to the late Norman Ashley Thomas and Dorothy Mabel (Wood) Thomas. At an early age John developed his love of animals and nature. His first dog, Lixson, was a Pyrenean Mountain Dog. John learned to fish at the age of 6, and fishing became his lifetime pleasure. While fishing professionally, in the 1987-88 season of the U.S. Bass circuit he won first place in the tournament at Guntersville, Ala. He became an expert fly fisherman and tied his own trout flies, among which were the Fluffcat Nymph, the Lime Green Elk Hair Caddis, and Johnny’s Green. John was an Original Founding Member of the Carolina Fly Fishing Club. John loved billiards, becoming good at straight pool and shooting with his team at a tournament in Las Vegas in 1996. John was always ready to help, not only people, but also animals. He never refused to adopt a stray cat into his home. Surviving him now are two lucky cats, Rascal and Spark Plug.

After graduating from City High School in Chattanooga, John enrolled in the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where he met his wife-to-be, Carol Ann Castle. Carol and John enjoyed 56 years together. When John died on November 20, they were one day shy of their 53rd wedding anniversary.

At the University of Tennessee John earned a B.S. degree in Transportation. During 20 years at Consolidated Freightways he served as Dock Supervisor and for a short time as Terminal Manager. When Hurricane Hugo struck Charlotte, North Carolina in 1989 John left the freight business and started his own company, Carolina Stump Removal. Following a move to Elizabethton, Tennessee in 2008 he then created All-Out Stump Grinding. John was an excellent cook, with specialties such as Deer Stroganoff, Vietnamese Chicken Soup, Shrimp and Okra Gumbo and many more delicious dishes.

Continuing his lifelong desire to help people, John’s body has been donated to Restore Life USA for purposes of education and research. At a later date his wife Carol will hold a private remembrance and celebration of John’s life.

In loving memory of John, donations may be made to the Elizabethton-Carter County Animal Shelter, 135 Sycamore Shoals Road, Elizabethton, TN 37643; or, to St. Peter the Apostle Anglican Church, 3321 Thornton Drive, Kingsport, TN 37664.