Mr. Dewight E. Thomas

Dewight E. Thomas died peacefully on February 25, 2025 after living an active and fulfilling life for more than 94 years. Born in Darke County, Ohio on April 21, 1930 during the Great Depression and into a relatively poor sharecropper family, he was the good but often independent thinking son of Chester and Euturpy Thomas. He had five siblings who he loved and enjoyed working and playing with on the various farms. He graduated from Ansonia High School in 1948 and worked various jobs before being drafted into the Army during the Korean Conflict in 1950. He spent the majority of his service stationed in Chicago in the Veterinary Corps. Following his service, Dewight married Marie Willis in 1954 and they had a loving marriage for nearly 65 years until her passing in 2018. They lived in Greenville, Ohio and raised their family there until 1970 when he was transferred to Columbia, South Carolina with Hobart Manufacturing Company. Dewight Thomas’ true passion was being around other people - swapping stories, playing cards and working together on projects. He joined the Masons in 1955 and was very active in in the area Kiwanis Clubs in both Ohio and South Carolina. He was also very active in the Presbyterian churches his family attended, serving as Sunday School Superintendent in Greenville, and as one of the original five Elders and the first Sunday School Superintendent at the newly formed Spring Valley Presbyterian Church. Following retirement in 1995, Dewight was active in various charitable works including Habitat for Humanity. In December 2001, as a cancer survivor, he was given the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch for a leg as it passed through Columbia on its way to Salt Lake City for the 2002 games. In 2003, at age 73, he decided he be a Reserve Deputy Sheriff in Richland County and went on to qualify and actively serve until his retirement in 2020 at age 90. His former commander recently described him as “strong, inspiring and a little bit ornery.” Truer words were never spoken. Dewight is survived by his daughter Debbie and her husband Chuck Beam, son Steve and his wife Susan Thomas, and his “baby” sister Carol Slyder. In addition, he is survived by his four grandchildren and their families – Chris and wife Amanda Beam, Abbey Beam, Katie Beam Miller, and Laura Beth and husband Michael McClendon – and four and half great-grandchildren – Mason Miller, Madelyn Beam, Amelia Beam, Emma McClendon, and Baby McClendon due in late May. The funeral service for Mr. Thomas will be held at 12:30 o'clock, Tuesday, March 11th, at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, 125 Sparkleberry Ln, Columbia, SC, with Rev. Dr. Jack Heinsohn officiating. Burial will follow at 2 o'clock at Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road, Columbia, SC. The family will receive guests from 5 until 7 o'clock Monday, March 10th, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia, SC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105. Dewight has given religiously to St. Jude’s since meeting and talking to Danny Thomas at the USO in Chicago during his Army days. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.

Tributes

Mr. Dewight E. Thomas

April 21, 1930 - February 25, 2025