Tomas H. Diaz passed away on February 27, 2022, surrounded by loved ones, his wife of sixty-four years, sons, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and cherished friends and neighbors. His final days were spent in the comfort of his home, filled with his most valued pleasures, of love, laughter, the playful sounds of grandchildren, and the presence of family.

A San Antonio native, born December 2, 1932, Tomas longed to see the world. This longing led him to the Navy Reserves, where he boarded his first ship as a high school student for a military tour of Cuba. The following year, he enlisted in the Navy and proudly served in the Korean War on the U.S.S. Floyd B. Parks (DD 884). His military service would strengthen his dedication, his resilience, and his compassion for his fellow man.

Tomas transferred this dedication to his professional roles. He worked at Kelly Air Force Base for over thirty years, accumulating numerous awards for outstanding service. In addition to supporting his family, his passion for learning and his commitment to his career propelled him to attend college courses in the evenings. While raising a family, he earned an Associate of Arts along with other technical certifications. Tomas would return to work in retirement, serving as a bus driver for SAISD for ten years. He would find fulfillment surrounded by the joy and laughter of children upon whom he undoubtedly imparted his quiet wisdom.

Tomas would go out of his way to support his family, shuttling his grandkids to and from school and other events. As a doting grandfather, he never failed to give in to the whimsy of his grandchildren, giddily laughing, while squished in the front seat of his El Camino. As they grew, he became their confidant - always willing to listen, giving them the purity of his attention, and suspending judgment. His grandchildren revel in the knowledge that their grandfather was devoid of one single measure of "fakeness". He was sincere to his core.

Tomas is best known for his calm, patient, and humble approach to life and his accepting nature. With a content smile, he was happiest sitting alongside his children and grandchildren, enjoying a meal and listening quietly to the banter and stories of the past. When ushered into the conversation, however, he possessed an unpredictable wit - never failing to punctuate conversations with humor. Although most comfortable enjoying the buzz of family interaction, he was usually silent, smiling quietly in the background. Despite a reserved disposition, he was never one to shy away from pulling aside a struggling family member to offer advice and guidance.

The simplest pleasures in life brought great joy to Tomas. He liked doing DIY before it was a thing, teaching his boys electrical work, boating on 12 cents of gas, and heading out for fly fishing. He spent his time indulging in documentaries and consuming the Sunday paper from the first to the last page. He enjoyed road trips across the United States, stopping to try his luck at casinos near and far, and he would never refuse a bowl of ice cream. He was so convinced in the healing powers of ice cream that many a medicinal bowl of "Napolean" was shared with grandchildren as they faced life's struggles. So strong was his affinity for food that in his last weeks, he was poised to drive himself from the hospital for his morning toast and jam while promising to begrudgingly return back to his room.

From Tomas' life, we are taught to be bold and to go beyond the confines of our community, to sacrifice for our fellow man, respect the dignity of others, and to find fulfillment in hard work, learning, and in love of God and family.

Tomas is survived by his wife, Olga; his sons, John and daughter-in-law, Angie, Arthur and daughter-in-law, Simone, and Richard and son-in-law, Caesar; as well as grandchildren, Kathy, Ernestine, Jeanette, Edward, and Maya; and great-grandchildren, Noah, Travis, Madeline, and Maximus; and brother Rudy.

The viewing is scheduled from 9:00 - 9:45 am, rosary 9:45 - 10:30 am and funeral mass 10:30 - 11:30 am on March 18, 2022, at St. John Berchman Catholic Church.