Emil Bara Thomas Jr.

Emil Bara Thomas Jr., 88, died peacefully at his Fayette County, Texas, home on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, in the arms of his wife, Elaine, on the night of their 30 th wedding anniversary. He was born in San Benito, Texas, 10 miles from the Rio Grande River, the only son of Emil Bara Thomas Sr. and Geraldine (Geri) Stolley Thomas Gross.

When Emil was in school, the family moved like tumbleweeds because his father worked on non-union construction jobs. They lived in other Texas towns, as well as in Louisiana, Missouri and Oklahoma, However, Emil considered the Rio Grande farms of his maternal and paternal grandparents his true home. Disillusioned with always being the new kid in high school, Emil moved back to the Valley to live with an aunt and uncle. His parents eventually followed.

After Emil graduated from San Benito High School, he worked for several Harlingen employers before following his older sister, Joycelene, to the bright lights of the city of Houston.

The rudimentary skills Emil had attained were sharp enough for him to land a job with Houston Pipe Line Company’s drafting department.

That marked the beginning of a long, successful, fulfilling career that was only interrupted once.

In 1960, the U.S. Army drafted Emil. After completing basic training at Fort Hood, Texas, he attended the Provost Marshal’s General School at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Emil was assigned to the 205th Military Police Company, Fort Leavenworth Detachment in Kansas City, Missouri. Following his honorable discharge, Emil returned to Houston and his old job that Houston Pipe Line had held open for him. In a couple of years, Emil had the opportunity to transfer to the company’s South Texas field operations.

The country boy was back in the country driving a white pickup truck with no AC orradio, collecting flow charts and fixing meters at far flung well locations, many on huge ranches behind six or eight locked gates. Houston Pipe Line’s management recognized Emil as a hardworking, trustworthy and savvy employee and steadily promoted him to challenging new roles and responsibilities.

Emil retired 33 years later as district manager of the Corpus Christi District, which ran roughly 150 miles from the Nueces River to the Rio Grande River. He had been accountable for 1,100 miles of offshore and onshore natural gas pipelines that helped to fuel the nation’s need for clean, reliable energy. Emil had also managed a 30-plus employee workforce and numerous specialized energy contractors.

When early retirement came knocking, Emil recognized this as a great opportunity to head to Central Texas, where he and the love of his life, Elaine, settled down. Their forever-home is a farm between Holman and Ammannsville. Emil and Elaine have been happy and content, calling these two-plus decades the best years of their lives.

Emil loved working outdoors and in his shop. He took pride in his land and cattle, and stood ready to assist neighbors and friends needing a helping hand or a hand up. Trips to the feed store and hardware invariably included tailgate visits with neighbors and friends, who enjoyed the personable guy in the crisp, white button-down shirt and well-worn blue jeans that still held a faded crease, a summer or winter Stetson (depending on the season) and scuffed Justin boots.

A man of faith and integrity, Emil will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Elaine; loving daughter JoAnn Milton, San Antonio; grandchildren: Dallas Milton (Jen Colbenson), Tara Goodney (Dylan Brasher) and Chase Milton, all of San Antonio; five great- grandchildren, Brantley, Story, Paisley, Achilles and Daphne; brother- in-law Bob Odum, Columbia, Tenn.; and nephew Richard Odum of Katy, Texas.

Memories of Emil will always be held close to the hearts of his Alberta, Canada, family, who adored his accent, wisdom and wit. This includes his sister-in-law, Shirley Goerlitz, Calgary; brothers-in-law Bob Taylor, Diamond Valley, and Arthur (Linda) Taylor, Innisfail; six nieces and nephews; 15 greatnieces and nephews; and a great-great niece and a greatgreat nephew.

Emil was predeceased by his baby sister, Barbara; older sister, Joycelene; father, Emil Thomas Sr.; mother, Geri Thomas Gross; stepfather Hugh (Pete) Gross; and greatgrandson Dalton. He was also preceded in death by his Canadian in-laws, William (Bill) and Cecilia Taylor, and brother- in-law Harvey Goerlitz.

A service with military honors celebrating the life of Emil Thomas will be held at Koenig Belvill Funeral Home in La Grange, on Monday, June 1 at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Mike Tyson officiating. Interment will be in the La Grange City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial remembrances to: Hospice Brazos Valley; the Fayette, Schulenburg Weimar, Round Top or Flatonia Public Libraries; or the charity of one’s choice.