My dad's obituary.

Clarence Martin Tomes, 64, of Port Hueneme, died in Flagstaff, Ariz., on Friday, March 28, 2008, due to a car accident.

Clarence, affectionately known as "Bud" by many who knew him, was a kind and generous man who was loved by his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.

Clarence was born April 12, 1943, in Evansville, Ind., to the late Joseph and Dorothy Tomes. In his teen years, his family moved to Upland, Calif. After high school, Clarence served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Winslow Air Force Base in Arizona, where he worked in radar. That is also where he met his wife, Barbara. They were married June 15, 1963.

In 1963, Clarence and Barbara moved to San Pedro, California where he finished his military service. After several jobs, including one with Hughes Aircraft, the couple settled in Port Hueneme in 1967, and he began working for the civil service at Point Mugu as an electronic technician until he retired in 1994.

After his retirement, Clarence enjoyed working on computers, reading science fiction, and bowling. He was a member of many bowling leagues throughout the years, most recently the Over the Hill and NSWC Mixed Five bowling leagues.

Clarence was also a proud member of the Free and Accepted Masons of California, Anacapa Lodge No. 710 in Oxnard.

Clarence is survived by his wife of 44 years, Barbara; his sons, Gerald Tomes and Jeffrey (Carol) Tomes; his daughter and her husband, Stacie and Isaac Lopez; six grandchildren, Jennifer, Amanda, Megan, Jeffrey, Shawn, and Jason; three brothers, Norman (wife Bonnie) Tomes, Arnold (wife Darlene) Tomes, and James Tomes; five sisters, Mary-Jo (husband Earl) Rush, Sandy Sisk, Debbie Saunders, Cheryl (husband Bill) Smith, Eve Marie Panowitz. He is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. In addition to his parents, Joseph and Dorothy, he was preceded in death by his sister Doris.

All who knew Clarence will remember his great sense of humor, big heart, and loving spirit.

Memorial services for Clarence M. Tomes will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at Conrad-Carroll Mortuary in Oxnard. A small reception will follow the service at the mortuary.

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