Clifford Thomas, Jr

Clifford E. Thomas, Jr., age 91 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 9:34 a.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2016 at Lakeland Hospital – Niles following a brief illness.

He was born on September 18, 1925 in Portland, Indiana to Clifford Enos and Vanrhie Mary (Manley) Thomas, Sr. He attended Niles Community Schools, and has lived in Niles all of his life. He enlisted in the United States Army, served in the Merchant Marine Maritime Service on the SS Borinquen, and was honorably discharged as a veteran of World War II. He returned to Niles, and was employed at the former South Bend plant of Drewry’s Brewing Company until its closing. He was then employed at the former Niles plant of Simplicity Pattern Company until his retirement.

Clifford attended the Emmanuel Baptist Bible Church in Niles, and was a member of the American Legion Post #26 in Niles. He was proficient in both appliance and television repair, and was a productive carpenter in his home woodshop. He enjoyed the outdoors, working in his yard and camping with the family, usually up-north in Michigan.

On August 12, 1950 in Niles he married the former Doris Joan Huffman with whom he celebrated in August the remarkable Sixty-sixth anniversary of their wedding. They were sadly preceded in death by a 12 year old grandson, Benn Thomas who died in 1994, an infant granddaughter, Jessica Thomas who died in 1987, and by Cliff’s brother, Daniel Thomas who died in 2007.

Surviving family includes his wife, Doris Thomas and their children, Darlene (& Kenneth) Patten of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Gary (& Becky) Thomas of Niles, and Brad (& Donna) Thomas of Warwick, Rhode Island; eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and two foster great-grandchildren; and Cliff’s siblings, Robert “Bob” Thomas, Jenny Johnson, and Patricia Dokey, all of Niles and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Clifford Thomas will be at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 9, 2016 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Pastor Brad Lomax of Emmanuel Baptist Bible Church officiating. The service will conclude with Full Military Honors outside the funeral home by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan. Committal services will be at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, October 10, 2016 at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday at the funeral home beginning at 2:00 p.m. Contributions in memory of Clifford may be made to Emmanuel Baptist Bible Church.

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