Lillie Thomas

Lillie C. Thomas passed away unexpectedly on June 1, 2021 in San Antonio, TX. She was 65.

She is survived by her daughter Samantha (Robert), her grandchildren Colton and Violet, and dear friend Ron Schlager.

Lillie was a proud member of the Virginia Tech class of 1977, majoring in Economics and Statistics. She traveled regularly back to Blacksburg, VA to take in a homecoming day and do the Hokie Pokey. One of only two female members of Omicron Delta Epsilon, a national economics honor society, Lillie was a dedicated student who passionately pursued her goals.

Lillie was a tenacious, head-strong, fiercely independent woman. As a single mother, a dedicated career woman, and world traveler she was never afraid to live her life and pursue her passions. A true traveler, there wasn’t a place she wasn’t willing to go. Whether it was all over America or all over the world, Lillie left few places unexplored. She would always return with a good recipe idea, story about a historical detour taken, and a small souvenir tucked under her arm for her daughter and grandchildren.

Lillie was a driven career woman. She was an inventor, published author, medical device and regulatory affairs professional, a certified auditor, expert witness, consultant, and statistician. Lillie had numerous professional and academic achievements. She knew her work inside and out, studied and learned relentlessly, never backed down from a challenging problem, and could quote FDA and ISO regulations like the lyrics to her favorite Elton John song. She worked in numerous industries over the span of her career which provided her ample opportunity to travel and live all over the world, speak at industry conferences regarding her research, and most importantly to her— work to improve the space she occupied within an organization. She loved to teach others what she learned and share the passion and energy for her craft.

Lillie never missed an NCAA March Madness tournament, and followed her beloved Hokies in good years and bad. She would argue to the ends of the earth with anyone who disagreed that LeBron James was not only the greatest current player in the league, but the greatest of all time. Her family often argued with her, as everyone knows the GOAT is Michael Jordan.

Lillie was an avid reader and would fill her home with books. She encouraged her daughter and grandchildren to read, learn, and discover. Quick witted, sarcastic, and darkly humorous you were always in for a ride when debating Lillie. She was never without an opinion and was a great conversationalist.

Lillie would name her greatest accomplishments as her daughter and grandchildren. She was at her happiest when her grandchildren were with her, talking about her many adventures or going on adventures of their own. She wanted them to have the same adventurous spirit and drive to learn about the world that she did. Her favorite name was Grammie and she loved her grandchildren deeply. She took online college courses on fossils and dinosaurs so that she could share her grandson’s passions and identify all the dinosaurs. Lillie taught her daughter to be independent, stand up for what she believed in, advocate for others, be unafraid to be who she is, and pursue her passions unapologetically. She taught her that to be a woman is to be a pillar of strength and self-reliance.

Lillie did not wish for a funeral. She wanted those to remember her in life. She will boldly go on the next journey independently, as she has traveled much of the world. In lieu of flowers, Lillie would want you to take a friend out for a delicious meal and great conversation. Donations can be made in her honor to The National Women’s Law Center in honor of her life long support for women’s rights, or the Daughters of the American Revolution in honor of her deep love of America and American heritage.

Cremation Arrangements are under the direction of Goetz Funeral Home located at 713 N. Austin Street, Seguin, Texas 78155. 830-379-2313