It depends on what your data complexity is and your database programming skills. Excel is pretty simple for this purpose and is what I use.
See Mail Merge.

I have a macro that automatically attaches the current document to the database. It runs automatically when a new document is created from one of my merge templates. It is also available as an icon on my QAT.

My database is in the same relative location to my workgroup templates folder on every computer in my office. It is automatically synchronized between computers.

Can you use a thumb drive? Yes. I would want to have backups and you need to be sure you treat that thumb drive well. You do not want Word working with any documents directly when they are on a thumb drive, I do not know that this applies to data sources not being edited, though. Consider keeping it on the Cloud, One Drive or DropBox.

I recommend spending some time getting to know Word. Although Word and Wordperfect are both WP programs, they are not the same and work in very different ways.
Word for Wordperfect Users
Basic Concepts of Microsoft Word - from Shauna Kelly
Templates in Microsoft Word