Thomas E. Bryant, Jr., community-minded
Thomas E. Bryant Jr., 77, of Lincoln passed away peacefully at home Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018.
Thomas was born in Camden, N.J., son of the late Thomas E. Sr. and Ruth (Long) Bryant. He and his wife Lola moved from Franklintown, N.J., to Lincoln 16 years ago.
He worked as a lagger for 24 years at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and was a civilian retiree with the U.S. government. Thomas proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1959-63 and received an honorable discharge as Airman Second Class.
Being very civic and community-minded Tom had been a volunteer fireman with the Westville Fire Department and member of Porchtown UMC, both in New Jersey. After relocating to Lincoln, he was a member of the Milford Elks Lodge 2401, American Legion Post 28 in Millsboro, was very active with the local veterans association, as well as Milford Church of God.
In his spare time, Tom enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, restoring furniture, dancing with his wife Cookie, and being outdoors, especially fishing, camping, traveling cross-country and being at the beach.
Tom is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Lola A. “Cookie” (MacMullin) Bryant; three children, Evelyn Fithian and husband Charles of Erial, N.J., Thomas E. Bryant III and wife Lisa, and Bonnie J. Murcavage, all of Franklinville, N.J.; seven grandchildren, Patrick Fithian, Daniel Fithian, Kerri E. Dempsey, Christian J. Bryant, Jesse T. Bryant, Ryan Murcavage and Alex Murcavage; two great-granddaughters, Olivia K. Dempsey and Regan E. Dempsey; and one sister, Kathryn Devonshire of Oklahoma.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 23, at the Milford Church of God, 500 N. Walnut St., Milford, with a time of visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A graveside service and burial will be at noon, Friday, Aug. 24, at the Porchtown UMC Cemetery, 220 Porchtown Road, Newfield, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions are forwarded to: MD, DE, DC Elks Association, Army of Hope, 6181 Quaker Neck Road, Chestertown, MD 21620.
Arrangements in the care of Berry-Short Funeral Homes, Milford.
