Lt. Colonel William Buford Bill Thomas, USAF(ret), age 88, of Pleasant Plains, Illinois, formerly of Antoine, passed from this life on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL. He was born on May 28, 1920 in Antoine, the son of the late Joe R. and Mae Stubblefield Thomas. Bill attended the University of Arkansas before going into the Army Air Corp, which later became the United States Air Force. He owned his own real estate business, William B. Thomas Associates , for more than thirty years in Springfield. Bill achieved and earned many titles during his business career, which included Realtor of the Year in 1995 and later the title of Realtor Emeritus. He was an Accredited Land Consultant of the Realtors Land Institute; president and founding member of the Central Illinois Chapter of the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers; president and founding Member of Springfield Sertoma, and past president of the Springfield Chapter Reserve Officers Association. Bill was a member of the Jacksonville Illinois Church of Christ. Bill was preceded in death by two brothers, Fletcher E. Thomas and Robert Neil Thomas. He is survived by his wife of thirty-one years, Julianne Riggins Thomas, of Pleasant Plains, IL, two daughters, Donna Lynn Bankard of Springfield, IL, Jill Patrice Thomas and companion, Peter Wright of Edmonton Alberta Canada, four sons, William Allen (Tom) Thomas and wife, Kathleen of Sun Lakes, AZ, Joe Scott Thomas of Windsor, CA and Robert Kelly Thomas and wife, Rosanna of Santa Rosa, CA, and John (Jack) David Thomas and wife, Faye of San Jose, CA, his first wife and mother of his children, Naomi Engle of St. Louis, MO, one sister, Betty Jo Bowdle of Delight, thirteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM Friday, November 21, 2008 at Ellinger-Kunz & Park Funeral Home, 530 N. 5th, Springfield, IL. Graveside services with full military honors will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, November 24, 2008 at Antoine Cemetery under the direction of Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia. Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon on Monday at the Antoine Church of Christ. Lunch will follow in the fellowship hall. Visit www.welchfh.net to sign the online guest book.