Growing Up in Williamsport, Ohio

My Sister Jean and Cleveland Wilson Thomas
 
I cannot write an article about my sister Jean that is better than the following obituary for her husband Cleveland “Wilson” Thomas except to say that my sister Jean knew Wilson from earlier days. Sometime after the tragic death of husband, Harry Davidson, she came into contact with Wilson again. He was in the Army in Germany at the time. I don’t know if she wrote to him but 
when he came home, they renewed their acquaintance and married. Wilson worked for the McFarland family of Circleville after he came home.
 
His daughter Lisa and I were both present when he became a Christian. I had nothing but respect for Wilson and the beautiful family that he reared, five girls plus Jean’s son Jeff. He was gone too soon at the age of 51 on December 10, 1979.
 
Jean continued to live in, and later south of Williamsport until she passed away on August 17, 2017 just five days before she would have turned 84. She is buried in Springlawn Cemetery.
 
From the newspaper obituary for Cleveland Wilson Thomas 
 
“Born June 10, 1928 in Culloden County, West Virginia, Cleveland Wilson Thomas was the son of James Ballard and Sarah Ellen Meadows Thomas of Hurricane, West Virginia.
 
He was a veteran of the Korean War, a Sergeant in the Army. He served as Commander of American Legion Post 618, member and chairman of the Disaster Committee of the Williamsport Fire Dept, president of the Williamsport Town Council, and served as Mayor of Williamsport. 
 
He was a construction worker and crane operator and a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers. As a crane operator, he worked in the construction of the Alum Creek Dam and the Deer Creek Dam. 
 
Wilson was husband to Evelyn Jean (Francis) Thomas for 25 years. He raised a stepson Jeffery Alan Davidson, and five daughters, Sue Ann, Wilma Jean, Ellen Maria, Bonita Joann, and Lisa Ann Thomas. He is also survived by son Georg Thomas Marcum.”

©Marilyn Francis Ferguson 2021
Photography/graphics by Michele Ferguson Schuck