TUTWILER— Charles Edward Thomas, age 96, of Tutwiler, passed away peacefully on Tuesday. Aug. 26, at Chateau Pines Assisted Living in Brandon. Mr. Thomas retired in 1991 as District Manager of Mississippi Power & Light. His career with MP&L spanned 42 years.
Visitation will be 1-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, at First Baptist Church in Tutwiler followed by the funeral service at 2 p.m. Private burial will be immediately following the service in the Rome Cemetery. Meredith-Nowell Funeral Home in Clarksdale is in charge of arrangements.
He was born in rural Sunflower County (Doddsville) on November 19, 1928, to John Davis Thomas and Elinor Mary Watson Thomas. He attended Drew High School, and met the love of his life, Jean, at the hardware store in Drew where Jean worked.
At the age of 17, Charles joined the United States Navy, leaving Jean, family, school and farm behind. He was initially stationed in St. Petersburgh, Fla.; later shipped by train to California; and was then based in the Aleutian Islands when WWII ended. His interest in all things electrical began in the mechanical room of his ship, the USS Whetstone.
Charles was a member and Ordained Deacon of First Baptist Church of Tutwiler. He brought his family to Tutwiler in 1963.
He was President of the local chapter of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for 16 years; and was a lifetime member of IBEW; AFL-CIO; and VFW. He was also a Shriner.
Charles was preceded in death by his mother and father; his son, Charles Edward Thomas, Jr.; his wife, Irma Jean Bridges Thomas; sisters, Martha Sue, Mary and Ruth; and brothers, James and John.
He is survived by his daughters, Marsha Burnett (Jeff) of Bovina, and Sandy Gammon (Daniel) of Knoxville Tenn.; his son, John Thomas (Leigh) of Raymond; and his sister, Evelyn McClellan of Houston, Texas.
Charles has loved his family deeply, including his twelve grandchildren, Matthew Rumfelt (Kandace); Ryan Rumfelt (Kelsey); Amanda Peagler (Micah); MacKensie Beall (Jeremy); Jennifer Andrews; Grant Thomas; Hayden Angay (Tugay); Jacob Thomas; Clayton Thomas (Sydney); Mason Thomas; MaKayla Branch (Ben); Savanna Smith (Daniel); and his many great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
He will be sorely missed, but we rejoice that he will be reunited with loved ones in Heaven.
