(Retired) Lonnie Carl Thomas

THOMAS, (Retired) Lt. Lonnie Carl - Age 77, passed away Saturday, August 6, 2011 at Hurley Medical Center. Family hour 10 a.m. Friday, August 19, 2011 at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 1083 E. Stewart Ave., with funeral service commencing immediately at 11 a.m. Pastor Kenneth Boykins officiating, Pastor Lewis Randolph, Host Pastor. Interment River Rest Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 10 a.m. Friday. Lt. Thomas will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, and may be viewed from 12Noon-8 p.m. Thursday. Ret. Lt. Lonnie C. Thomas was born April 26, 1934 in Sulligent, Alabama, the son of Ida Mae Bell and Jerry Thomas. Lonnie was a lifelong resident of Flint and a member of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church. He attended Flint Public Schools, graduating from Flint Northern High School, "Class of 1953. Shortly, after Lonnie made a brave decision to serve his country by joining the United States Army, and later the Marines. He was Honorably Discharged from both branches of the military. Later on, Lonnie fell in love and was united in Holy Matrimony in 1961. Lt. Thomas was previously employed with the United States Secret Service before he joined his "Boys in Brown" at the Genesee County Sheriff Department in 1963. He was employed by the department for 28 years, where he made many true friends before retiring in 1991. Lt. Thomas was a kind-hearted person who devoted much of his time and energy helping people, especially children. He loved traveling, nature and taking pictures of others. Lt. Thomas was known to many as “Dad”, because of his caring and giving nature. He leaves to cherish his memory: son, Lonnie Carl Thomas, Jr. of Lansing, MI; grandchildren, Lonnie Carl Thomas III, Erik Clayton Thomas and Andre Thomas; 10 great-grandchildren including Erik Jr., Akyra and Erika; 1 stepbrother; aunt, Susan “Big Sis” Barr of Boston, MA; a host of cousins, other relatives and friends including Ret. Sgt. George Wilson and Malandus Sonny Wilkes. Lt. Thomas was preceded in death by her mother, Ida Mae Tiller; father, O.B. Tiller; 8 aunts; and 4 uncles. The family would like to express special thanks to Sgt. George Wilson, , Genesee County Sheriff Department, United States Army and Marines.