FRANK PARKIN THOMAS
Frank Parkin Thomas, age 91, beloved husband of 64 years to Emily Johnson Thomas, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, June 16, 2019.
Born in Sumter in 1927 and raised in Wedgefield, Parkin was a son of the late Lee Hamilton Thomas and Dorothy Parkin Thomas. He was a graduate of Edmunds High School and then volunteered for the Marine Corps in 1945, where he served during World War II. After his tour with the Marine Corps, he attended The Citadel as a veteran student for two years. He then attended Furman University, where he received his bachelor's degree. While at Furman, Parkin helped to start and develop their ROTC program. After graduation, he was commissioned in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant. Parkin met and married the love of his life, Emily, in 1954, and they settled in Sumter. He was hardware wholesaler for more than 40 years with Brown Rogers Dixon and Moore Handley. After his retirement from the hardware wholesale business, Parkin worked for an additional 20 years and was known as "The Mailbox Man" in Sumter. He was a devout Christian and was one of the founding members of Westminster Presbyterian Church. He served the church in many capacities and was elder emeritus at the time of his passing. He loved hunting and fishing and spending time with his family. He will be remembered as a very loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Surviving in addition to his wife, Emily, are two sons, Frank P. Thomas Jr. and wife, Kimberly, of Greenville, and John Lee Thomas and wife, Renee, of Camden; a son-in-law, Joe W. Dukes of Sumter; four grandchildren, Warren Dukes and wife, April, Lauren Watson and husband, Michael, Bradley Thomas and Leigh Thomas; and one great-granddaughter, Ellena Dukes.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a daughter, Kathy Thomas Dukes; two brothers, Lee Thomas Jr. and Dr. Harold Rawling Pratt-Thomas; one sister, Dorothy T. Hunter; and a granddaughter-in-law, Tiffany Thomas.
A funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday at Westminster Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Stuart Mizelle officiating. Interment will follow the service at Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 3 to 4 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 230 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC 29150 or Covenant Place, 2825 Carter Road, Sumter, SC 29150.
The family would like to thank all the caregivers of Covenant Place for their loving and compassionate care.
You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family's guest book.
The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.