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Paul M. Thomas passed away peacefully in his home on April 1, 2021. He was born in Asheville, N.C. on September 27, 1940. He is survived by his wife, Teresa, of 50 years, his two children, Darwin Thomas and Christine Fuller, his 2 grandchildren, Asher Thomas and Saylor Fuller, his brother, Carroll, and sister, Marijane Marceau.Paul was in the U.S. Navy from 1963-69 and worked as an Electrician's Mate aboard the submarine U.S.S. Tunny. In 1971, he moved to Hawaii to start a new adventure with his wife. They soon settled into a home in Pearl City, HI, with 2 children who kept them busy and entertained with hobbies like bodyboarding and ice skating. Eventually, Paul became an Area Superintendent for PAR Petroleum Corporation (formerly Tesoro, BHP, PRI) and retired after 27 years.
Post-retirement, Paul worked part-time for Nalco as a Service Specialist and devoted the rest of his time to volunteering for things he believed in. For several years, Paul taught adults to read and write with Hawaii Literacy. However, perhaps one of Paul's greatest joys until the very end of his life was volunteering his time to maintaining the Mighty Mo' Battleship at the Pearl Harbor Memorial. He always mentioned that he was heading into work to make the Mighty Mo' "mightier"!
Paul will be remembered as a person who lived life to its fullest by enjoying the simple pleasures - reading, walking, and traveling. He enjoyed working on puzzles, visiting national parks, and his daily walk. You could almost always find him sitting on a porch with a book, newspaper, or Time magazine.
Services have not yet been arranged. We will contact friends and family privately when more information is available. Donations in Paul's honor can be made to PBS Hawaii, the U.S.S. Missouri, and the Salvation Army.
Arrangements Provided By: Oahu Mortuary
