C. Willard Thomas

C. Willard Thomas of Stevensville, MD died on Sunday, May 30, 2004 at his home. He was 81. Born in Baltimore, MD on November 25, 1922, he was the son of the late Percy E. Thomas and Evelyn E. Harris. He was raised in Chester, MD and graduated from the Stevensville High School, Class of 1940. He then attended Salisbury State College, the University of Maryland and was a member of the Phi Capa Sigma Fraternity. In January 1943, Mr. Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on PT Boat 507 during the invasion of Normandy. On July 1, 1945 he married, the former, Emma Larrimore of Church Hill, MD. During his career, he served as Purser of the Matapeake Ferry System, Cashier of Stevensville Bank, and then retired in 1982 from the State of Maryland as Assistant Auditor in the Income Tax Division after thirty-one years of service. Mr. Thomas sold real estate for many years before and after retirement for Long & Foster in Stevensville and was a Boy Scout Leader for many years. He was a charter member of the Kent Island Lions Club,where he was a recipient of the Melvin Jones Award, a charter member of the VFW of Grasonville, MD, a charter member of the Kent Island Fire Company, served in the Prayer Breakfast of the Kent Island United Methodist Church of Chester, MD and served as an advisor on the Department of Aging for Queen Anne''s County. In addition to his wife, Mr. Thomas is survived by son, C. Michael Thomas of Virginia Beach, Va.; daughters, Suzanne T. Walton of Annapolis, MD and G. Lynn T. Stearns of Germantown, MD; four grandchildren, John Stearns of Coeur d''Alene, ID, Richard Stearns of Wilmington, NC, George B. Walton III of Charleston, SC and Angela S. Walton of Annapolis, MD and three great-grandchildren, Cody, Nathan and Ashlynn Stearns all of Coeur d''Alene, ID. Funeral services will be held at the Kent Island United Methodist Church on Thursday, June 3, 2004 at 11 AM. Family and friends may call at the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., Chester, MD on Wednesday, June 2, 2004 between the hours of 2 to 4 and 6 to 8. Burial will follow in Stevensville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 27, Stevensville, MD 21666 and /or Kent Island United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, P.O Box 308, Chester, MD 21619.