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Thomas, Reuben Mason, 88, of Clarington, Ohio, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, great great grandfather, uncle and friend, died Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at home surrounded by family. He was born December 7, 1918 in Clarington, the son of the late Elmer and Olive Smith Thomas. Reuben was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII, a retired Chief Engineer for the Mississippi Valley Line, a member of the Clarington Masonic Lodge #597 F. & A.M., and a Protestant by faith. He was an avid outdoorsman, loved to hunt and fish, and was known as a “Good Samaritan” for many good deeds for all in need. He was a skilled craftsman with many talents. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert and James Thomas; five sisters, Dorothy Thomas, Elizabeth (Toots) Veith, Alice Pletcher, Edith Weisman, and Lindy Imperata; a son-in-law, Gene (Skip) Taylor; a niece, Connie Tschappat; and a nephew, Jim Imperata. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Virginia Tschappat Thomas; a daughter, Sonja Taylor and her husband, Lou Lemmon; and a son, Charles Thomas, all of Clarington, a brother, Bill Thomas of Newport, Ohio, childhood friend and brother-in-law, Lemuel Tschappat of Clarington; six grandchildren, Tom Taylor and Jenny (Roger) Abbott, all of Clarington, Geanie (Jim) Conger of Woodsfield, Mac Thomas, Meredith (Joe) Tilton of Ovieda, FL, and a step grandson, Scott (Karen) Lemmon of Flowery Branch, GA; eight great grandchildren, T.J. Taylor, Matthew, Taylor and Tyler Abbott, and David and Deanne Cline, all of Clarington, Summer Taylor of Powhatan, OH, Ella Lemmon of Flower Branch, GA; three great great grandchildren, Dawson, Trey, and Maddox, and several nieces and nephews. Family will receive friends on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9pm at Grisell Funeral Home, 125 Clarinda Drive, Clarington, where Masonic Services will be held at 6:30pm and funeral services will be held Friday at 11:00am with Pastor Wendy Erb officiating. Interment in Clarington Cemetery where military graveside services will be conducted. Memorial donations may be made to the Clarington E Squad and Fire Dept., P.O. Box 256, Clarington, OH 43915.

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Thomas, Mason

July 10, 2007