Otis Edward Thomason

FLORENCE - Otis Edward Thomason, 83, went to be with his Lord and Savior September 3, 2015. He was a patient at the McLeod Hospice House.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, in the Mount Hope Mausoleum Chapel, directed by Waters-Powell Funeral Home. The family will have a visitation Saturday from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Funeral Home.

Mr. Thomason was born in Chester, SC to Nellie Brown Thomason and Brice Edward Thomason. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife of 40 years, Virginia (Gini) Streett Thomason. He is survived by his daughter Pam Thomason of Columbia; his son Mark (Donna) Thomason; granddaughters Melody (Eric) Zernikow, Kristen Miles; and four great grandchildren, all of Florence; and a very special friend, Ann Gay Duvall of Aiken, SC.

He was an only child but was blessed with many aunts, uncles, and cousins that he thought of as his brothers and sisters. He was raised in Columbia where he was an all-state star in basketball and baseball for University High and Columbia High, respectively. He served in the US Air Force during the Korean War where his service was cut short by the untimely death of his father in 1954.

Following discharge from the Air Force, he started a career in consumer banking in Columbia. Eventually, he was assigned to Florence where he met his future wife Gini and was married in 1957. He served in the installment loan department with South Carolina National Bank before promotion to the Loan Department Manager in Dillon in 1976. Due to health issues, he was forced into medical retirement in 1978 at the age of 46.

He was an avid woodworker and sports enthusiast who never met a stranger. He was a loyal son, father, grandfather, nephew and friend to many and will be sadly missed. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the Methodist Manor of the Pee Dee as well as the McLeod Hospice House for the dedicated and compassionate employees who cared for him over the last 2-1/2 years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to McLeod Hospice Services, c/o The McLeod Foundation, PO Box 100551, Florence, SC 29502 or online at www.mcleodfoundation.org.

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