Everett Lane Thomas Jr.

Everett Lane Thomas, Jr., COL USAF (Ret), PhD. died peacefully on Friday, August 5, 2022. Everett (Ev) was born on October 20, 1930 in Drumright, Oklahoma to Beulah Vinson and Everett Lane Thomas. He is survived by his wife Jean, daughters, Susan (Jose) Sol, Sarah (Phil) Maiberger, and his son Reid Thomas. Also surviving are grandchildren, Ed (Naine) Sol, Alex (Sofia) Sol, Andrea Sol, Andrew Maiberger, Rachel Maiberger, Hannah Maiberger and Sam Thomas as well as three great grandchildren, Lea and Jose Sol and Alex Sol. He was predeceased by his parents and three siblings, Patricia Thomas, Edward Thomas and Marilyn Maples.
Ev spent most of his youth in Oklahoma and attended Oklahoma Baptist University for two years on a track scholarship. At OBU he met the love of his life, Jean Lambert, with whom he shared his life for almost 70 years.
Ev earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Oklahoma State University and joined the Air Force to become a fighter pilot. Later he would complete his MS in Electrical Engineering, and finally a PhD in Systems Engineering from OSU.
He was a true American hero serving as a fighter pilot in Vietnam where he flew combat missions to locate and rescue downed pilots. He was awarded two Silver Stars for valor in combat, a Bronze Star for heroism, a Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement in flight, and many others.
After returning from Vietnam, he went on to become the Director of Engineering for the B-1 bomber program at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH before retiring after 23 year of service as a full Colonel in 1974.
Ev joined the faculty of Clemson University in 1974 as Director of Systems Engineering, a new graduate program. He also served as Acting Dean of Engineering from 1982-1983 and taught undergraduate industrial engineering prior to his retirement as full professor in 1985.
In 1984, he embarked into business, founding Integrated Support Systems, Inc. in Clemson, SC. ISS designs database software to manage critical information related to the design and maintenance of complex equipment. ISS continues to thrive today in Seneca, SC.
Ev was always passionate about his work but he also was an avid pilot, athlete and outdoorsman. He enjoyed running, racquet and water sports and snow skiing (until he had to hang up the skis at age 87). He loved backpacking, hunting and fishing and shared his love for all of his favorite activities throughout his life with his wife, children and grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 11:00 am at First Baptist Clemson with visitation following. The service will be live-streamed at https://fbcclemson.com/
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Collins Children’s Home ( www.collinschildrenshome.org ) or Prisma Hospice of the Foothills https://prismahealth.org/locations/ambulatory-labs-other/hospice-of-the-foothills .