Obituary of Donald Cameron Thoms

Donald Cameron Thoms of Forked River NJ, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother, died peacefully at home June 23, 2011. Born in Detroit, MI on May 27, 1923, he has been a resident of New Jersey since 1938. Prior to establishing residence in Forked River in 1973 he resided in Trenton, and Woodbridge Township, NJ. Mr. Thoms was a 1942 graduate of Trenton Central High School where he was captain of the varsity track and cross country teams. He held the school record for the half mile run of 1:58.3 set in 1942 for over 20 years. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Rider College in 1962. He served in the Army Air Force from July 1942 to October 1945, spending 34 months in the South Pacific area of Operations as an Aircraft Armorer with the 44th Fighter Squadron-13th Air Force, attaining the rank of Sergeant and awarded nine battle stars. Mr. Thoms was employed by the State of New Jersey Dept. of Corrections for over 26 years, 17 at Trenton State Prison and 9 at Rahway State Prison. After retiring in Dec 1973 from the position of Superintendent of Rahway State Prison he worked for 2 years as a Claims Investigator for the NJ Dept of Law & Public Safety. He also held the position of President of the Prison Officers Pension Fund Commission from July 1961 through June 1970. Mr. Thoms was a member of the American Legion North Trenton Post #458, and the Lacey Elks Lodge #2518 in Forked River, NJ. He was a parishioner of St. Pius X, Forked River, NJ. Son of the late John C. and Myrtle Wilhelme Thoms, and widower of Martha Ennis Thoms, he is survived by his wife, Judith Muskewitz Thoms; a son and daughter-in-law, Edward C. and Suzanne C. Thoms of Manchester, MO; two stepdaughters and a son-in-law, Melinda Emery of Forked River, Melissa and Matthew Giblin of Carterville, Illinois; two granddaughters and a grandson-in-law, Kimberly Ann Thoms of Mercerville, NJ, Kristin Ann and Anthony P. Tarantino of Pocasset, MA; two step-grandsons Connor M. and Ryan C. Giblin of Carterville, IL; two brothers, Robert F. of Orlando, FL, and Bruce H. of West Trenton; a great-grandson, Paul A. Tarantino; two nieces, several grand-nephews and grand-nieces. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 11:30 AM at the Church of St. Ann, 1253 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville. Burial will follow in the Riverview Cemetery, Trenton, Friends may call on Monday from 9 AM to 11 AM at Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Road, (Rt. #206), Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at www.stjude.org.