Claude Earle Thomas

Claude Earle Thomas, 81, of Charleston, SC passed away on December 15, 2021. The relatives and friends of Claude and June Thomas are invited to attend his Funeral Service 2:00 PM Monday, December 20, 2021, from the Family Life Center of Fort Johnson Baptist Church, 1473 Camp Road, Charleston. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 604 Fort Johnson Road, James Island. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.

Claude was born in Spartanburg, SC, the son of John E. and Bertha H. Thomas. He was a graduate of Spartanburg High School and graduated from Wofford College in 2 years and 8 months (1962). He was a Graduate Fellow, Clemson University (1962-66); M.S. (’64) and Ph.D. (‘66) in Plant Pathology.

Claude was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, and a devout Christian who served as a deacon and church council member at Fort Johnson Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, June Oakman Thomas; son Christopher Thomas and wife Barbara; son Andrew Thomas and wife Costa; son Matthew; three grandchildren, Leigh (Ryan), Hampden, and Robert; great-granddaughter Reid; and sister Dorothy Calvert (Roscoe).

Claude was employed by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service for 38 years; first as Research Plant Pathologists, Agricultural Research Laboratory, Weslaco, TX (1966-82); then as Research Plant Pathologist, Lead Scientist (1982-90), and Laboratory Director (1990-04), U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, SC.

Claude was a renowned research scientist and consummate educator. He served two terms on the Weslaco, TX School Board, Guest lecturer, Xinjiang Agricultural University, China (’88), Adjunct Graduate Faculty Texas A&M and Clemson University,  advising and guiding research of M.S. and Ph.D. students; he authored/co-authored over 200 scientific research publications; he developed varieties of cantaloupe that were grown throughout the world, was an elected member of honor societies including Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi, and Gamma Sigma Delta; and he had research and advisory assignments in Peru, Israel, France, Poland, and China.

Outside of his professional accomplishments, Claude and June (“high school sweethearts”) loved to travel and visited countries around the world. Later in life, Claude and June shared their love of ‘road trips’ with their grandchildren. He was a lifelong sportsman who loved nothing more than to be hunting and fishing with his three sons and later his grandchildren. Upon retirement, he became Pres. Charleston Lowcountry Rose Society and enjoyed growing and exhibiting his championship roses.

Claude immersed himself in the lives of his three sons and grandchildren, serving as a great mentor and teaching them life lessons about selflessness and family. He served in a multitude of positions along his sons' journeys, but some included little league coach, AAU swim meet official, and booster club president for both Weslaco and James Island High Schools.

We will miss Claude greatly, but the life lessons he taught and the example he set will be with us forever.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Fort Johnson Baptist Church Building Fund. Arrangements by James A. McAlister, 1620 Savannah Highway, Charleston. (843) 766-1365.