Thomas Carr

Thomas Eugene Carr, 84, died at 11:55 a.m. July 24, 2009, at St. Rita?s Medical Center, Lima. He was born March 6, 1925, in Lima to William Emmett and Myrtle O. Eley Carr, who preceded him in death. On Nov. 12, 1948, he married Betty Rose Arnold, who survives in Huntsville. Mr. Carr was a graduate of Lima South High School. He attended Ohio Northern University, and he was enrolled in the Navy V-12 Unit of St. Mary?s College, in Winona, Minn. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving at the U.S. Navy Aircraft Delivery Unit at Port Columbus, Ohio, and also at the U.S. Navy Yard at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and later in the Asiatic Pacific Area on the USS Monitor serving troops. He was president and general manager of Lima Painting Co. and a painting contractor in this area since 1947, serving as president of Lima Painting and Decorator Contractors of America. He was a member of union Local 1020 and was president of Lima Joint Trade Board of union Local 1020. He was a member of First Evangelical and Reformed Church, Lima, Masonic Lodge 205 and the chamber of commerce. He was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1275. He was an avid bowler of Northland and Westgate bowling leagues, and an avid fisherman and golfer. He was an avid Ohio State University and Pittsburgh Steelers football fan. In 1969, he had triple bypass surgery at St. Vincent Hospital, in Cleveland. He was one of the very first to have this procedure done and was a 40-year survivor. Thomas dearly loved his wife of 60 years and his children, and he greatly enjoyed his grandchildren. Survivors also include two daughters, Cathy (Dennis) Gladfelter, of Lima, and Charmin Rice, of Wapakoneta; three sons, David Carr, of Columbus Grove, Douglas (Donna) Carr, of Haslett, Mich., and Brad (Erin A. Taylor) Carr, of Mason; 10 grandchildren, Lindsey (Mike) McGinnis and Haley Gladfelter, both of Lima, Derek (Toni) Carr, of Lansing, Mich., Dana (Lance) Kraal, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Evan Carr, Tara Carr and Blaine Carr, all of Pickerington; and Nathan Rice, Erica Rice and Brannon Rice, all of Spencerville; and two great-grandchildren, Tyler Sharp and Kylee McGinnis, both of Lima. He was preceded in death by six sisters, Violet Ream, Thelma Rhodes, Kathryn Taylor, Mildred Schaffter, Annabel DeCurtins and Darlene Schwaiger; two brothers, William B. Carr and Joe Carr. Services will begin at noon Tuesday at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home. Pastor Ed Rinehart will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, with military rites by the VFW. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, where a Masonic service will begin at 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Masonic Home; St. Rita?s Medical Center, 730 W. Market St., Lima OH 45081; or First Evangelical & Reformed Church, 320 W. Wayne St., Lima OH 45801. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.