Obituary of Wilbur L. Thomas

Wilbur L. “Obe” Thomas, Jr., 81, of Erie, passed away Thursday evening April 24, 2014 at St. Vincent Health Center in Erie. Mr. Thomas was born on Jan. 16, 1933 at Tionesta, PA, a son of the late Wilbur L. Thomas, Sr. and Mae Gifford Thomas. He was married to Beverly Seely on April 23, 1955 in Oil City. Mr. Thomas had been employed at Erie Forge and Steel as a crane inspector for over 25 years until his retirement in 1995. After his retirement he worked for Birkmire Trucking. Mr. Thomas was a veteran of the Korean Conflict having served in the US Army. He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 773 in Erie; a member of the Bruce Shorts Post 5958 VFW in Titusville; a member of the Sons of Lake Erie; and a member of the Erie Sportsman’s Club. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, spotting deer, and gardening. He is survived by his wife Beverly of Erie; two sons, Glenn Thomas, Sr. and wife Shirley of Erie and Wilbur L. Thomas III and wife Elizabeth of Port Ritchie, FL; 3 grandchildren, Glenn Thomas, Jr. and wife Tiera of Cranesville, Ginean Thomas and fiancée Justin Smith of Anderson, SC, and Katheryn Thomas of Erie; 3 great grandchildren, Christian and Alyssa Thomas and Jaylen Smith; a brother, Herbert “Mike” Thomas of Meadville; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Jessica Thomas; three brothers, Kenneth Thomas, Lowell Thomas and Karl M. “Thomas” Irwin; and a sister, Wanda Van Guilder. Friends may call at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home 303 N. Washington St. Titusville on Monday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM and attend the funeral service there on Tuesday at 11:00 AM with Rev. Jeff Sterling, pastor of the Hydetown Baptist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery in Pleasantville with full military rites conducted by officers and member of the Bruce Shorts Post 5958 and Cleo J. Ross Post 368 American Legion.