Andrew "Buddy" Thomas

Andrew “Buddy” Thomas died at his home in Henderson North Carolina April 5, 2022. He was the son of the late Junie Thomas and Agnes Robertson Thomas. In addition to parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Thomas Lamb, and a brother June Thomas. He attended Henderson City Schools and was a member of First Baptist Church. Buddy was married to the love of his life, Juanita Holmes Thomas. They were happily married for 56 years until her death in 2003. He and his wife were lucky enough to travel worldwide with the General Electric Company. Their most passionate pastime was dancing. In the 1960’s they would have dance lessons in their basement. Buddy was an avid golfer and a former member of the Henderson Country Club. In the late 1940’s, at the peak of baseball’s “Barnstorming Era”, Buddy played baseball for the Henderson Independents Baseball Team. He was a catcher and was offered a contract to play for the New York Yankees. At that time baseball did not pay enough to support a wife and family. Buddy was a very successful businessman and built the family company Thomas Appliance Sales and Service in 1966 until 2020. He was a self-taught entrepreneur with a passion and enthusiasm to fix and repair appliances. He was a servant to his community and member of the Henderson City Council from 1986-1993. A memorial service will be held Saturday April 9, 2022 at 1:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of Henderson by Dr. Ronald S. Cava. Buddy is survived by his daughter, Judy Caywood (Bud); and son David Thomas (Becky); grandsons, Drew Heist (Liz), Blair Thomas (Sarah) and John Thomas (Olivia); seven great-grandchildren, Holden, Sydney and Ella Heist, Lacey and Ben Hilliard, Michael, and Ella Thomas. He is also survived by his special niece Teresa Thomas Rowland (Alan). The family will receive friends following the service in the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. At other times they will be at the home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, PO Box 75 Henderson, NC 27536 or Community Home Care and Hospice, 946 West Andrews Ave., Henderson, NC 27536