Carl E. Thomas Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

On Tuesday, July 14, 2022, God dispatched his angels to the bedside of Carl Ellis Thomas at the age of 81 years old. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family. Carl Ellis Thomas was born on June 8, 1941, in Brinkley, Arkansas, the oldest of three children born to the union of the late Henry B. and Blanche Lee (Burnette) Thomas. The family later moved to Buffalo, New York where he attended public schools and received his GED. Carl served in the United States Marines and received an Honorable Discharge. In 1963, Carl met and fell in love with the girl next door, Dorothy Little. They married on September 25, 1965, and from this union were born two daughters, Lin Marie and Lisa Ann Thomas. Carl was a hard-working, fun-loving man who loved to laugh. His primary focus in his life was helping others and taking care of his family. Work was his life and his hobby. He was a licensed electrician by trade and trained under his maternal uncle, Andrew Burnette. In 1976, he graduated from the I.B.E.W. Local 41 Electrical Apprenticeship Program and worked on many historical construction projects throughout Buffalo and New York State, such as the Buffalo Rapid Transit System, Hilton Hotel, University of Buffalo, and RG & E Nine Mile Nuclear Plant in Oswego, NY to name just a few. In 1986, Carl became a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) contractor approved by NYS and the federal government. Through his business, he worked on complex electrical systems and general construction projects in his beloved Buffalo community. He was also a City of Buffalo building inspector. In 2004, Carl retired and moved his family to Albany, New York to be closer to his children and grandchildren. Carl was a doting father and loving husband who, along with his daughters, took care of his beloved wife, Dorothy, until her passing in 2012. Carl is preceded in death by his wife (Dorothy Thomas) and parents (Blanche and Henry Thomas). He leaves to cherish his memory two daughters (Lin Arbab and Lisa Thomas), three grandchildren, (Tariq Arbab, Sumayyah and Isam Hakim), great grandson (Keanu Strachan), twin sisters (Karen L. Simmons and Karla Thomas), uncle (Luther Burnette), aunt (Georgia Burnette), brothers-in-law (Elmore Ingram and Auto “Archie” Watson, Charles and Booker Little), special cousin (Barbara Jean Hall), and many other cherished nieces, nephews, and cousins. A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, from 10:30 am – 11:30 am at the Church of St. Clare, 1947 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12205. Interment will conclude his services at 12:00 pm at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, Kateri Preserve, 2501 Troy Schenectady Road, Niskayuna, NY 12309.

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Carl E. Thomas

June 8, 1941 - July 14, 2022