Samuel Kay Thomas "Sam" was born in November of 1947, in Martinsville, Indiana.  Born to Jack Wayne Thomas and Wilma Mae Piercefield both have preceded him in death.  Sam was married to his loving wife in 1967.  Sam and Joyce Hopkins wed in Indiana. They celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary in 2019.

Sam, a newly married man, enlisted into the United States Air Force.  He was assigned to Vandenberg Air Force Base.  He spent six years at Vandenberg and two years in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  After his military career came to an end he returned to Lompoc, making it his permanent residence.

Sam spent six years working as a maintenance supervisor for several McDonalds stores on the central coast.  Sam retired from his longest position as a Grounds/Maintenance Supervisor at the Lompoc Unified School District.  Sam worked for the district for twenty-one years.  Sam always eager to improve himself and the life of his family attended college at Allan Hancock attaining his degree.  He was working full time and raising four young children.  We were all so proud of his accomplishment.  There was never a time that Sam was not striving to gain knowledge and be more productive.  While working for the school district Sam learned the Locksmith business.  He became the owner and operator of Sam's Lock Service.  He served his community for over 25 years.

Sam was very much a people person.  He could make friends anywhere he went.  He loved to chat.  Sam was the king of do-it-yourself.  He loved working on cars, motorcycles and his home.  He did all of his own home remodeling.  His final home project was completed in 2019.  Despite his pain and failing health he was determined to finish his project.  He was an extremely hard worker and no task was ever too big.

Sam enjoyed travelling.  He spent many weekends riding his motorcycle or driving his Corvette.  He was such a fan of cars and racing.  Sam knew every Formula One driver and watched every race.  In the last year he found so much joy in riding all over town on his scooter when he could no longer walk.  He found love in his two canine companions Lola and Buddy.  He and his wife would take them for walks multiple times a day just to soak up the outdoors and appreciate mother nature.  Lola would jump up and ride on the scooter with him when she would tire.

There was no man more helpful than Sam.  Helping others was so important to him.  He would lend a hand to a stranger at every chance.  He was helping others and offering his words of wisdom clear up until the very end.  He was a family man first and foremost.  He was a loving, devoted and caring husband.  Sam was a proud father of four children; Karinda, Whitney, Brittany, and Cullane.  He adored his ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren.  He was an extraordinary man to his family and will be greatly and dearly missed by all who knew him.

May these heavenly gates swing wide to welcome him home.  No man deserves it more.  May all of our love go with you.

Services will be held at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 11th, 2020, from 12pm to 8pm.  Funeral service will be Wednesday, February 12th, 2020, at 10:00am.