Charles Louis Thomas

Charles Louis Thomas, lifelong Cleveland resident, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 at the Clarehouse in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of fifty-three years, six months and nineteen days.

Charles was born March 8, 1953 in Hominy, Oklahoma the son of Charles E. and Terry C. (Tyler) Thomas. Charles was raised and attended school in Cleveland, graduating from Cleveland High School in 1971. Upon graduation, Charles was inducted into the service of his country in the United States Navy. An injury during boot camp resulted in Charles receiving a medical discharge and returning to Cleveland.

Charles then worked for the State of Oklahoma for several years at the Hissom Memorial Center, near Sand Springs, working in the maintenance department assisting in the client cottages. For the past twenty-three years, Charles has been an employee of the Cleveland Public Library and then most recently with the J. C. Byers Memorial Library. He has been actively involved in the children reading program for many years and especially enjoyed participating in the summer reading program. He would often make costumes and dress in the part of a character in the book being presented to the children. His love for children was evident in his life and he was sincere in assisting them in not only learning to read but in their enjoyment of reading books.

In addition to assisting young people in learning to read, Charles enjoyed helping the elderly. He took countless trips with his grandmother, Elsie Thomas traveling all over the United States and Canada. During these trips, he always took the time to help people to get to their assigned places in a timely fashion. He developed a special friendship throughout the years with Laura McDonald, who also just recently passed away. They worked together in the First Baptist Church, assisting with the children. Charles was baptized into the family of Christ in the First Baptist Church on August 8, 1975. Through the years, he was active in the youth programs and the choir. He loved to sing and participate in the Christmas and Easter Programs with the choir and assisted Maxine Trimble for many years with the youth as they made their annual trip to Falls Creek.

Charles enjoyed arts and crafts and especially loved cross stitching. He recently won First Place in the Pawnee County Fair with a hand piece he entered. He also enjoyed sewing and made many costumes throughout the years for library and other events in the community. Charles was recently recognized for his long time affiliation with the Library by having September 15, 2006 proclaimed as Charles L. Thomas Day in Cleveland by Mayor Ron Shipman. Additionally, he was just named during the pioneer day celebration as Cleveland's Volunteer of the Year for 2006 for his tireless devotion to the cause of making Cleveland a better place to live.

Charles is survived by his parents, Charles and Terri Thomas of Cleveland, Oklahoma and a brother, Michael L. Thomas of Hayward, California.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, September 30. 2006 at the Chapel of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home with Gene Black officiating. Burial will be at the Woodland Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.