Tommy Leon Thomas, 87

MILFORD - Tommy Leon Thomas, of Milford, died Saturday, March 1, 2008. He was 87.

Mr. Thomas was born Sept. 27, 1920, in Bomarten, Texas, to the late Hattie Lou and Hershel Thomas, the sixth child of eight siblings.

After spending his childhood as a cowboy on his family's ranch, he joined the Merchant Marines and went to see the world during World War II.

Upon his discharge from the military, he began his business career where he spent many years at Letourneau, Westinghouse, Ill.

On the third proposal, Ileta Selvey finally agreed to be his wife and they were married Dec. 30, 1950.

Together, they welcomed twin daughters one year later. Finally the job he was born to do, Father, was his.

Mr. Thomas is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Ileta "Tip" Thomas; daughters, Linda and her husband William Kennedy of Malvern, Pa., and Lana Rhea of South Berwick, Maine; four grandchildren; two grandsons-in-law; five great-grandchildren; sisters, Alma and her husband Al Kupp and Marilee and her husband Bab Gayrert; brother, Jesse and his wife Catherine Thomas; and many nieces, nephews, and countless friends he made through the years.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday in Mauger-Givnish, Inc., Funeral Home, Malvern, Pa., where friends may call at 10:30 a.m.

Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery.

An informal memorial will be from 2-4 p.m. Sunday in Shawnee Country Club, Milford, for friends to gather and offer him his big send-off.