Bellevue, WA - Garth Thomas passed away peacefully at his Bellevue home on September 10th, 2025, with his wife Shelley at his side, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer that lasted almost 3 years.

Garth married Shelley in 2012, and in just 13 years, they created an entire lifetime of memories.

Despite such a devastating diagnosis, Garth faced pancreatic cancer just as he lived life: with determination; optimism; a sense of humor; and an unwavering commitment to his wife, son Cole, and daughters Kendall and Kristina.

For Garth, life was a gift to be lived at full throttle. Going backwards or slowing down was never even considered.

In the game of life, Garth never needed a mulligan.

Garth grew up in Redmond, and attended Redmond HS, where he was a standout athlete in football, basketball, and track and field. Garth then played football at the University of Washington, and took immense pride in his #68 jersey. Garth was subsequently part of the victorious '84-'85 Orange Bowl team that was inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame.

Garth had a fiercely competitive spirit that drove him in sport, business, and his inspirational fight with cancer.

He always wanted to catch the biggest fish, hit the longest tee shot, and cook the greatest meal.

At UW, Garth set weightlifting records, and at Redmond HS he set state records in the discus and shot put. These records may have been broken, but one legendary record remains untouchable: in High School, Garth once ate 38 full slices of pizza in a single evening at Pizza Haven.

After a brief NFL career, Garth entered the family business, Eastside Masonry Products, and pursued numerous other entrepreneurial endeavors, including founding Great NW Construction Products.

Garth was a man of conviction: friends, family, faith. He knew his most important role in life was to be a husband, father, and grandfather.

Garth was at his happiest spending time with family and friends, playing golf at Aldarra, hiking, and tailgating at Husky games.

Garth proudly watched his son Cole start his college football-coaching career, eventually working at UW and then Alabama.

He was also overjoyed when Kendall and Kristina started their own families, and treasured every moment with his grandchildren.

Throughout his life, Garth understood that even if the goalposts moved, he just kept driving forward.

In his last year of life, Garth completed his 27-year quest to play every single golf course on Golf Digest's Top 100 list. Also this year, Garth finally won the March Madness Pool that he had enthusiastically entered for over 30 years.

Garth went out on a high note and leaves a legacy of love and laughter.

Garth's family knows that everyone reading this has probably heard 68 different stories about his adventures.

Even though life may have thrown an interception, Garth maximized every day of his 61 years on earth.

Garth was preceded in death by his first wife, Ronna, and by his parents, Tom and Kay Thomas.

Garth is survived by his wife Shelley; son Cole, daughters Kendall Russo (Michael), and Kristina Engelstone (Christopher); and grandchildren Eric, Penny, and Sebastian; as well as his sister Michele Rooney (Iain), and a loving group of extended family and friends.

There will be a Celebration of Life in spring 2026, with details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Wounded Warrior, PanCan, or a charity of your choice.