Patsy Ruth Thomas

Patsy Ruth Austin Thomas, 89, of Odessa, Texas, passed away on January 20, 2025. Born in Vian, Oklahoma to Robert James and Vida Louise Austin, Patsy spent her early years in Santa Maria, California before moving to El Monte, California. It was there that she met and married Adrian N. Thomas while he was stationed at Elmendorf Air Base in Alaska.

For the next 20 years, Patsy and Adrian lived in various places, including Alaska, Turkey, Germany, Louisiana, and Texas. She was a loving wife and devoted mother, always making a home wherever they went. Her sense of humor and her ability to face life with a smile were a hallmark of her personality. She found joy in the little things, often telling the story of the 1964 earthquake in Anchorage, Alaska, when Adrian tried to save a ceramic teddy bear cookie jar, only to have it bounce out of his reach as the earth trembled beneath them.

Patsy was a hardworking woman, having worked in accounting for many years before retiring from AIP Products in 1999. After her retirement, she devoted her time to volunteering at the Salvation Army and enjoyed participating in activities at the Senior Citizens’ Center, where she was known to love a good game of Bingo.

A proud mother and grandmother, Patsy was a constant source of support for her children and grandchildren. She cheered them on at every sporting event, always ready with an encouraging word or a smile. Patsy’s caring heart extended to others, as she often invited airmen that were separated from their families to share a home-cooked holiday meal with her family. She was concerned that no one spent a holiday alone. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Adrian N. Thomas; her parents, Robert and Vida Austin; her brother, James Austin; her sister, Sue Wilson; and her granddaughter, Ramona Sellars. Patsy is survived by her daughters, Cheryl Sellars, Robin Thomas, and Adrienne Kuykendall (husband, Ralph); her son, David Thomas (wife, Katrina); six grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren, as well as a host of dear friends who will forever cherish her memory.

Patsy’s spirit of generosity, her infectious laughter, and her enduring love for family and friends will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.