David Wayne Thomas

David Wayne Thomas was born on February 15, 1964, in Little Rock, AR to James David “Pops” & Carolyn Sanders Thomas.

David was a 1982 graduate of Bryant High School where he excelled in the sport of baseball, played football and basketball. He attended Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR.  In 2006, David received a bachelor’s degree in Health & Fitness and was the ATU assistant girls’ softball coach.

David met the love of his life, Sherry, in 2015.  They were married for seven and a half years.  His proudest accomplishment was his family.  He loved and adored his daughter and four grandchildren. 

He enjoyed time out in the deer woods, fishing for bass on Lake Ouachita, and bowling for dollars, but his most favorite times were spent on any ball field in the country.   For over 31 years, he coached girls slow pitch and fast pitch softball, winning 100s of games and championships.  Before his ALS diagnosis, he spent his last year coaching his granddaughter, Kynslee, and her 10u softball team, to a District Championship win.  He was the life of the party, usually dancing on the field between innings, or singing THUNDER by AC/DC.  During football season, you would find him rooting on his beloved Arkansas Razorbacks, Alabama Crimson Tide and most recently, he had hopped on the Colorado Buffalos bandwagon. He attended The Church At Benton, and Geyer Springs First Baptist Church, where he accepted the gift of eternal salvation into his heart.

On Saturday, September 23rd, David received a brand-new body free from the disease that crippled him for six months.  He passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends at his home.  He is survived by his wife, Sherry Lane Thomas; daughter and son in law, Kayla and Devin Yount; his four grandchildren, Kynslee, Emery, Mayli and Cohen Yount; his brother and sister-in-law, Scotty and Kandie Thomas; his mother-in-law, Fredia Lane Hollingshead; his sister in law, Candace Lane; three nephews, Austin Rollans, Jackson and Maddox Lane; and two nieces, Lacie McInturff and Abigail Lane. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Pops and Carolyn Thomas; grandparents, Berlin and Dorothy Thomas; and brother-in-law, Lonnie Ben Lane.  He will be remembered by a host of extended family members and lifelong friends, and all the youth that he impacted on and off the ball field.  

We could go on and on about everyone who meant something to David and who he was to them, but what matters most is that he is free from ALS and rejoicing in heaven with his loved ones.  Knowing David Wayne, he is talking about his six favorite things up in heaven:  Family, Friends, Fastpitch Softball, Food, Football, and Fishing.

We would like to extend our Thanks to Arkansas Hospice, nurse Jamie and CNA Calista, and four very special people that walked this journey with our family for the last six months, Karen Moore, Fern Besancon, Tonya Bailey, and Judi Kindy Garrett. Honorary pallbearers, Tommy Goodman, Willie Olgesby, Todd Oliver, and Tracy Scarborough.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in David’s memory, to The ALS Association Arkansas Chapter or The ALS in Wonderland foundation.

A visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 pm on Monday, October 2, 2023, at Smith Benton Funeral Home, 322 N. Market St. Benton, AR. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at Smith Benton Funeral Home.