Raleigh S. Thomas

Thomas, Raleigh S. Sr. 80, of Safety Harbor passed away and went to be with his beloved wife Patricia on June 10, 2018. Raleigh was born on November 19, 1937, and was a lifelong resident of Pinellas County. Raleigh grew up in Clearwater and graduated from Clearwater High School in 1956.

Raleigh had several jobs in his youth; he worked at his Uncle Ben’s grocery store in Safety Harbor and as a teller at Derby Lane in Saint Petersburg. In 1960, he was hired by the Florida Department of Transportation and worked as a project road engineer for over thirty years.

Raleigh proudly served in the Army National Guard from 1959-1963.

He loved sailboats and sailing around Clearwater in his earlier years. His other hobbies included gardening, tending to his many citrus trees, and building and construction. He built Lisa’s Court apartments in the late 1960s and, in the early 1980s, he built a beautiful five-bedroom house from the ground up.

Raleigh was a Southern gentleman who loved spending time with family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Owen and Pearl Thomas; his brothers, Lindbergh, Robert and Dewey; his sisters, Patricia and Elouise; and by his loving wife of over fifty years, Patricia.

Raleigh is survived by two sisters, LaVonia and Beverly; his children, Leigh (Jacque), Dwayne (Connie), Lisa (Chris) and Vicki (John); grandchildren Dylan, Lance, Dorothy, Gary, Jade and Brooke; and great grandchildren Sierra and Sonny.

Visitation will be held on Thursday June 14, 2018 beginning at 10 am with the memorial service to follow at 11 am at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Sunset Point Rd., Clearwater. www.sylvanabbey.com.