Obituary of Thomas Charles Way

SFC Thomas Charles Way (Ret.), 81, proudly left a dairy farm in Findley Lake, NY in 1955 to serve his country in the United States Army from 1955-1975.  He loved to talk about memorable places like Africa (esp. Ethiopia), Germany, New Mexico and Vietnam with the awful Agent Orange.  However, no destination can compare with the awesome journey of being at peace on July 20, 2018, where the Lamb lays down the Lion, with no suffering in the presence of our Mighty God after battling dreadful leukemia.

After Tom retired from the Military in Ft. Bragg, NC, he met and married, in just three months, the love of his life, 40 years ago in Raleigh NC, Betty Bobbitt, who charmed him with her endless joy from her love for God, family, people and animals.  Together, with Concerned Citizens for Animals, we have passionately loved and aided countless dogs and cats to which Tom was devoted in supporting the oldest committed no-kill shelter in the Upstate since 1980.

We are forever grateful to Tom’s son, Jeff, and wife Darlene, (grand-daughters, Shana and Brittany) in Anderson, SC, along with daughter Monica, and husband Tom, from Ohio, and Navy Seal grandson, TJ and grand-daughter, Aubrey, for their loyal love and support since Tom’s diagnosis in March.

Pastor Jay and all our amazing Fork Shoals Baptist Church family, CCA, neighbors, friends, Robyn and all the precious Happy Way Pet’N Team have shared every struggle as we were daily rejuvenated through the joy of the Lord.  Tom also had a special bond with his mother-in-law, Lula Bobbitt and brother-in-law, Rayford Bobbitt, with wife Fay and their family.

To honor Tom, the family will greet friends at Fork Shoals Baptist Church, 110 Fork Shoals Church Road, Pelzer, SC 29669, from 4-5pm Tuesday with the service afterwards at 5pm.  Burial will immediately follow in the church cemetery.

Betty and the family would be grateful in lieu of flowers if you make donations in Tom’s memory to Concerned Citizens for Animals, PO Box 1332, Simpsonville, SC 29681 or Fork Shoals Baptist Church, 110 Fork Shoals Church Road, Pelzer, SC 29669 or Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

The family would like to thank Compassus Hospice of Duncan for all their compassionate help and caring during Tom’s sickness.