Lt. Col. Donald Howard Thomas, USMCR, Ret.

LT. COL. DONALD HOWARD THOMAS, USMCR RET. AIKEN, SC -- Donald Howard Thomas, 86, after a long struggle with congestive heart failure, passed away peacefully Saturday, October 29, 2011, his wife at his side. Son of the late Edward Anderson and Emma Bertha Erickson Thomas, Mr. Thomas was born in Steele, North Dakota, July 12, 1925, and grew up in the small town of Driscoll, ND. He moved to Bismarck, ND at the age of 16 in order to play high school sports, where he met his first wife, Cleo Constance O'Brien, who predeceased him. Don and Cleo were married 35 years and produced six children, four of whom also predeceased him: Sons, Terry Michael, Mark Edward, Daniel Brien Thomas, and daughter Julie Ann Thomas Roe. He graduated from Jamestown College, Jamestown, North Dakota, in 1946, with a major in Chemistry, obtaining his Masters from the University of South Carolina at Columbia in 1970. Mr. Thomas served in the United States Marine Reserves for many years, enlisting March 8, 1943, and retiring on July 12, 1980, as Lt. Colonel. He moved to Aiken from North Dakota in 1954, where he worked at the Savannah River Site, E. I. DuPont, Separations Department, retiring in 1987 as Area Superintendent in Separations Engineering. Upon retirement, he taught at a small Christian school for a time and later home schooled his two daughters from middle through high school. He was an avid horseman, at one time a member of the Aiken Hounds, and a golfer who loved the South Carolina coastal area, especially Hunting and Fripp Islands. A onetime Mason, Mr. Thomas served in the prison ministry for 25 years, ministering at the Aiken County Jail, Youth Correctional Center, and Pre-Release Center. He was involved with Wycliffe Bible Translators for a number of years, a Sunday School teacher and home group Bible study leader at various times. Mr. Thomas was charter member of South Aiken Presbyterian Church, charter member of New Covenant Presbyterian Church, and at his death a member of Cedar Creek Church, Banks Mill Campus. Survivors include daughter Susan Marie Thomas (Knox) Gilmore, Gainesville, FL, and son Jeffrey Don Thomas, Salt Lake City, Utah, from his first marriage. Also surviving are his wife, Joy Hilsman Thomas of Aiken; daughters/granddaughters, Brea Amoret' (Kevin) McClain and Tara Suzanne (John) Cataldo, both of Kernersville, NC.; grandchildren, Jeffrey Todd (Kathleen) Thomas and John H. Thomas; Adam Thomas and Laura Thomas Heyda; Melissa Gilmore (Paul) Cremers and Betsy Gilmore (Dan) Clover; Terry Thomas and Rachel Thomas; Tyler Thomas and Courtney Thomas (Nick) Novello; Stephanie Marie Roe (Joseth) Avila, Paul Edgar Thomas, Andrea Constance Thomas; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral Home, 715 E. Pine Log Road, Aiken, on Wednesday at Noon, with Pastor Phillip Lee officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 AM until Noon Wednesday at the funeral home. Graveside services will be held Thursday) at 2:00 PM at Beaufort National Cemetery, 1601 Boundary Street, Beaufort, SC. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Cedar Creek Church, 301 Banks Mill Road, Aiken, SC, or to a ministry of one's choosing. Please visit the online guest register at www.shellhouseriversfuneralhome.com. SHELLHOUSE - RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lt. Col. Donald Howard Thomas, USMCR, Ret., please visit our flower store.