Clarence Thomas

Clarence E. Thomas, 85, Silvis, died Sunday, May 29, 2011, at Trinity Rock Island. Services will be 1 p.m. Friday, June 3, at Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church, East Moline. Visitation is two hours prior to service time at the church. Memorials may be made to the family. Burial will be in National Cemetery, Rock Island. He was born April 15, 1926, in Albia, Iowa, to Pearl Thomas and Hazel Morris Thomas. He married Bonnie Cavil on June 3, 1956. He served in the U.S Navy. He retired from being an investigator for the soil conservation services for the State of Iowa. He was a member of the American Legion in Albia for over 50 years. He was also a singer for the True Lights gospel group. He loved to fish and go to the horse races and played bingo faithfully every week. Survivors include daughter, Deborah Humphrise, Rock Island; sons, Clarence (Lynn) Thomas II, Parson, Kansas, and Steven L. Thomas, Silvis; sisters, Pearl Hayes, Detroit, Michigan, Bernice Reed, East Moline, Katherine Teague, Silvis, and Carol (James) Morney, East Moline; brother, Kenneth (Mae) Thomas, East Moline; sevan grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Darlene Thomas, East Moline; and brother-in-law, Charles Williamson, East Moline. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, three brothers, and one great-grandchild.