Final Salute

Richard Allen Thomas, a devoted husband, father, minister, and proud veteran, of Chesterfield, Michigan, 79, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Born on November 18,1946, in Detroit, Michigan. Eldest son to Grace (Lucido Palermo) and James Thomas.

He grew up as a young child on the west side of Detroit, and later moved to California and then Kentucky. He served in the Army National Guard, and was schooled to be an Armored Intelligence Specialist. Later joined the Navy. While in the Navy, he was called into the Seabee battalion, which was a construction battalion, and was sent to Vietnam for two tours, building many things on base. After the military, he was discharged in 1968, and returned to Michigan to visit his family. There, his family introduced him to his future wife, Lorraine DiFalco.

He married the love of his life, Lorraine (DiFalco) Thomas, on September 19, 1969, sharing over 56 loving years of marriage. They met on a blind date and were smitten from the start, marrying 8 months later. They had four children: Cindy (Ronald) Giovannone, of Ohio, Paul (Jessica) Thomas, of Arizona, and the late Richard Dominic and late Laura Ann Thomas. He has one sibling, a brother: Robert (Beverly) Thomas. He was known as “Papa” and grandpa to his five grandchildren: Alex, Armand and Jared Giovannone, Anthony and Grace Thomas. He was known as “Uncle Rich” to many nieces and nephews.

Rich retired in 2004, after 35 years of driving a semi-truck for Farmer Jacks grocery store. He loved driving so much that later in his retirement years, Lorraine and he traveled with a 40-foot mobile home to many places.

Devoted in his faith, known to many saints from the church as Brother Rich, He was blessed as a baby on January 19, 1947, by Brother Fred D’Amico. He later began to attend The Church of Jesus Christ with his wife, Lorraine, and was baptized on November 26, 1972, spending 54 years serving the Lord. He came to later find out that he was blessed in the same church as a child, without realizing it.

Bro. Rich loved the Lord and the Church, and was ordained a deacon on April 6, 1975, ordained later a Teacher on October 2, 1977, and was ordained an Elder, into the ministry, on December 18, 1983. He spent 42 years in the ministry. Brother Rich spent 27 years in the Detroit Branch #1 location, and another 27 years in the Inner City Branch in downtown Detroit, serving the brothers and sisters. He had a gift for memorization, and could quote word-for-word from scripture, including whole chapters of Isaiah. He preached many sermons to the Church. He loved to study the word of God and, over the years, taught many scriptural lessons from his love of in-depth study. His ministry touched countless lives offering guidance, compassion, and spiritual strength to all who knew him.

Rich had many hobbies, he enjoyed building toys and furniture with wood, he was handy and could work on cars, and fix things around the home. He even built his own garage. He and Lorraine loved to camp and traveled by car on many road trips over the years. He loved to read and study the scriptures. He enjoyed gospel country music, and he enjoyed singing bass in the church choirs during his younger years. He was a very good artist, and could draw anything, and had great penmanship, and was skilled in calligraphy.

In addition to a tremendous love for his family, friends and members of his church, Bro Rich loved the Lord, and was a very dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ. He will be remembered for his strength, his devotion to his family, his service to his country, and his steadfast faith. His legacy lives on though the lives he impacted and the family he loved so dearly. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Visitation will take place on Thursday, May 14, 2026 from 4:00pm until time of Funeral Service at 6:30pm at Bagnasco & Calcaterra Funeral Home, located at 13650 E. 15 Mile Rd. Sterling Heights, MI 48312

A private burial will be held.