Thomas Ray Mcdonald

Wilson – Graveside services for Mr. Thomas Ray McDonald, 95, are scheduled for 4:00 pm Saturday April 18, 2015 at the Bomar Pt. Cemetery in Wilson with Rev. Jason Williams officiating. Services are under the direction of Alexander Funeral Home of Wilson.

Thomas was born July 14, 1919 in Ardmore, Oklahoma and passed away April 13, 2015 in Columbus, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles & Mary McDonald; brother and sisters: Joe McDonald, Augusta Beauchamp, Thelma Williamson; his wife of 64 years, Olline McDonald and their infant daughter Francis Rae McDonald.

He is survived by his daughter, Edna Mae (Mark) Munden of Hemet, California, sons: Thomas Ray (Pam) McDonald II of Durant, Oklahoma; Howard Fenton (Judy) McDonald of Pataskala, Ohio. 7 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren.

During WWII he moved from Oklahoma to Southern California to work in the shipyards. He served in the Navy for a short time and upon an honorable discharge established himself as an electrical contractor in Southern California.

A dramatic change took place in his life when he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.

He was an active member of the North Long Beach Brethren Church where he and Olline served as deacons. They were a ministry team wherever they went.

Sensing the leading of the Lord he sold his electrical business in Southern California to serve in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in the construction of the Memorial Christian Hospital at Malumghat for the Association of Baptist for World Evangelism.

Returning home he returned to the electrical trade. After a fall from a ladder he knew he could no longer do the manual work of an electrician he became a realtor.

He retired to Oklahoma and served as a deacon at the Colbert First Baptist Church. During his retirement, Tom & Olline spent months living out of their motorhome in Counselor, New Mexico. Tom supervised the construction of a gymnasium Grace Brethren Home Missions.

Later Tom & Olline moved to Pataskala, Ohio to become part of the Pataskala Grace Brethren Church where their son Fenton was pastor. He served the church as an elder until he was unable to serve because of health.

Tom lived what many would dream and truly his life was a dream. The Lord ushered His good and faithful servant home on April 13th, 2015.

Family visitation will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, April 18, 2015 prior to the service at Alexander Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent online at www.alexanderfuneralhome.org