DATE: Wednesday, September 17, 1997         TAG: 9709170394

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   27 lines

HENRY C. THOMAS

Chief Petty Officer Henry ``Hank'' Clay Thomas U.S.N., retired, 63, of the 3400 block of McNeal Ave., died Sept. 15, 1997, in his residence.

Born in Colerain, N.C., he had retired as a master chief after 23 years with the U.S. Navy. He was a Vietnam veteran and a Baptist. He formerly worked at the Jonathan Corp. as the production and structural and welding superintendent. He also worked with Alexander Stars and Kersey as a structural and welding superintendent at Xeno Tecnix.

Survivors include his wife, Norma Bonney Thomas; three daughters, Janice North of Chesapeake, Joy Thomas of Virginia Beach, and Judy Jennings of Chesapeake; two sons, Clay Thomas and Cliff Thomas, both of Chesapeake; six sisters, Bertie Ritchie of Philadelphia, Anna Belle Briggs of Norfolk, Tinny Volhein of Delta, Ga., Mae Hall of Portsmouth, Mabel Harris and Helen Harrell of Norfolk; a brother, Harris Thomas of Virginia Beach; and 11 grandsons and five granddaughters.

A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday in Colonial Grove Memorial Park with full military honors by the Rev. Dave Libengood. The family will receive friends at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Indian River Chapel, from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and also at 4212 Goldcrest Drive, Chesapeake. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu