Max R. Thomason's Obituary
CHARLESTON, IL - Max Roberts Thomason, age 87 of Charleston, departed this life on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. Services honoring and celebrating his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston with B.F. McClerren officiating. Burial, with Military Rites by the Honor Guard of the Charleston VFW Paul McVey Post 1592 will follow in Roselawn Cemetery, Charleston. Visitation for family and friends will be held Saturday morning from 10:00 until Service time. It is requested that in lieu of flowers memorials in his honor be made to the Charleston Christian Academy. Gifts may be left on the memorial table at the visitation or services or may be mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920. Max was born July 1, 1923 in Charleston a son of the late Thomas Benjamin and Eva May (Roberts) Thomason. On January 10, 1948 he was united in marriage to Jenny Milburn, the daughter of Elmer and Clotille Milburn; and to this union was born three sons and two daughters. In addition to his wife Jenny, surviving are his children and their spouses, James and wife Kathy of Demotte, Indiana, Randy and wife Joyce of Wheatfield, Indiana, Michael and wife Laura of Safety Harbor, Florida, Teresa of Phoenix, Arizona and Deborah of Chesnee, South Carolina. Also surviving are seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Max was preceded in death by two brothers, Keith of Mattoon, Illinois and Thomas of Peoria, Illinois. Max was a proud World War II United States Army Veteran. From February 1943 until March 1946 he served in the 326th Glider Infantry Regiment of the 13th Air Borne Division. His unit earned one battle star while attached in reserve to General Patton's army. He was a member of the Charleston VFW Paul McVey Post 1592 of Charleston. Pastor Thomason was a graduate of Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music in Grand Rapids, Michigan; and in 1969 was ordained to the gospel ministry by the Bible Center Church of Charleston, Illinois where he was at that time a member. He served pastorates in Woodstock, Illinois, Demotte, Indiana, Tuscola, Illinois, Hanston, Kansas, Great Bend, Kansas, and Mattoon, Illinois. He also served with Mid-America Mission and the Illinois Bible Church Mission. He was involved in establishing churches in Tuscola and Salem, Illinois. For many years he maintained a Sunday morning radio ministry on WLBH, Mattoon, Illinois. From 2004 until the present, he has conducted a ministry from WRAN FM Taylorville, Illinois. He also served as an interim pastor for the Sutter-Salem Bible Church in Sutter, Illinois and the First Baptist Church in Charleston. Rev. Thomason was currently attending North Side Baptist Church in Charleston. Over the years Reverend Thomason worked as both a local grocer and real estate broker. He was owner of Coles Realty in Charleston and Thomason's Market located at the corner of Jackson Street and Route 130 in Charleston.
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