Harvey Dow Thomas, Jr., 87, of Newberry, widower of Joy Willingham Thomas, died Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at Oakleaf Village at Lexington. Born on October 2, 1933, in Laurens, he was the son of the late Harvey Dow Thomas, Sr. and Birdie Waites Thomas. Mr. Thomas was a proud veteran and served in the U.S. Navy and retired from the U.S. Air Force after 30 years. He later retired as a civil service employee at Fort Gordon as a firefighter and fire inspector. He loved to fish and loved the outdoors. He was a jack of all trades and coud fix anything. He always took his time and could figure it out. Even though retired and having dementia he still did his job of checking fire alarms and equipment while staying in assistant living facilities. Mr. Thomas was a member of Faith Lutheran Church and was a Shriner and a Mason. Harvey was a family man who took care of his mother, wife and other family members for years. He is survived by his children, Deidra (Keith) Bartley, Jeffery Dodd Thomas, Darron Craig Thomas, Darrah Thomas (Ronnie) Jones; grandchildren, Ashton Nikole (Jody) Davis, P. Seth Chick and M. Austin Bartley; a great-grandson, Jordyn Davis. He was predeceased by his son, Harvey Dow Thomas III and his siblings, Eloise Corley, Lurlene Jenkins, Helen Wright and Olin Thomas. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Friday, May 28, 2021, at Faith Lutheran Church by the Rev. Randy Derrick. Burial will follow in Newberry Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends following the service at the graveside. Memorials may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 1505 Wilson Road, Newberry, SC 29108 or to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, 950 West Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605. Active pallbearers will be Austin Bartley, Keith Bartley, Danny Berley, Mike Willingham, Jerry Willingham and Seth Chick.

(Source: Obituary, McSwain-Evans Funeral Home, Newberry SC: HARVEY THOMAS, JR.)