Dillard Thomas, father of Reston resident Kittie Thomas, died at the age of 90 this past October in his hometown of Houston, Texas. Thomas was born in Cleburne, Texas, along with seven brothers and sisters. When Thomas was 7, his mother died, and a year later, he lost his father. Thomas and his siblings were placed in the Masonic Home orphanage outside of Ft. Worth, Texas, where they were raised and schooled until they graduated high school. Thomas went on to graduate from Rice University as the valedictorian of his class, receiving a degree in mechanical engineering. He married Aline Rosenthal in 1941, and in 1948, their only child, Kittie, was born.
Thomas is survived by his wife of 67 years, Aline Thomas; his daughter, Kittie Rothschild of Herndon; his granddaughter, Jodi Rothschild of Reston; his grandson, David Rothschild of Falls Church; his great granddaughter, Deja Rothschild-Payne of Reston; his sister — the oldest of all the Thomas children and who just celebrated her 101st birthday, Celeste Etter of Cleburne, Texas; nieces Patsy Kelly and Linda Pearson of Austin, Texas; and nephew Mike Thomas of Austin.