Paul Adam Thomas Jr.

Paul Adam Thomas Jr., 91, passed away at his home in Chino Hills, California, on September 8, 2026.

Born June 21, 1935, in Belfield, North Dakota, to Gertrude Mary Otremba and Paul Adam Thomas Sr., Paul lived a long and full life defined by hard work, service, independence, family, and an unwavering ability to fix just about anything.

As a young man, Paul proudly served his country in the United States Army, where he was stationed in Germany for two years. Following his military service, he built a successful career as a Data Processing Analyst for the City of Los Angeles.

Paul was a man of many talents and interests. In his younger years, he played on his high school football team, and as he grew older, he remained an enthusiastic fan of the sport and fantasy football. Paul also loved to dance and had some great moves. He learned to dance during his college years as a member of his fraternity, a skill and joy that stayed with him throughout his life. He was also an incredibly skilled handyman and homebuilder. Whether it involved carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, or gardening, Paul was someone who could figure things out and build or repair things with his own two hands.

On December 23, 1987, Paul married the love of his life, Mary Georgina Hill, sharing nearly 40 years of marriage. He was a loving father to his daughters, Michelle and Vicki, from his previous marriage to Olivia Salazar, and Cameron; a proud grandfather to 8; and a great-grandfather to 5. He is also survived by his younger sister, Lorraine Quattlebaum. His family will forever hear his voice in his signature phrases: “Lo and behold,” “That was wild,” “Gee by golly,” “I mean to tell ya,” and “Man alive.”

For more than 50 years, one of Paul's favorite traditions was visiting El Tepeyac, the beloved Mexican restaurant in Boyle Heights. It was more than just a favorite restaurant; it was a place connected to decades of memories and good meals.

Paul will be remembered for his intelligence, resourcefulness, determination, sense of humor, stories, and the unmistakable sayings that made him uniquely himself.

Lo and behold, what a life he lived.