LAKE WALES, Fla. – Jerry Peter Thomas Sr., 63, died Friday, April 11, at the Lake Wales Medical Center.

He was born in Lewiston, May 23, 1944. He moved to Lake Wales in 2002 from Kissimmee, Fla. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served in the Vietnam War and retired in 1981 as a petty officer first class.

He was a member of the VFW Post 2420 in Lake Wales, a life member of the Military Order of the Cootie Pup Tent 64 and the American Legion Post 10 in Kissimmee.

Survivors include his wife, Linda E. Thomas; five children, Jerry P. Thomas Jr. of Carlsbad, Calif., Arnold Thomas of Charleston, S.C., Cameron Thomas of Standish, Tamara Hudson of Marianna, Fla., and Patricia Ambrose of Lake Wales, Fla.; three grandchildren, April Thomas, Robert Ambrose and Beatrice Ambrose; three brothers, Roger A. Thomas of Lewiston, Robert Thomas of Hebron and Burton Thomas of Brunswick; and two sister, Sylvia Mills of Lake Wales and Nancy Roy of Durham.

He was predeceased by his parents, Alfred C. Thomas and Corinna (Pelletier) Thomas; and two sons, Mark and William.