Mr. Thomas Charlton

Thomas W. Charlton, 88, of Oscoda, Michigan, passed away on Thursday, March 2, 2017 peacefully surrounded by family at his daughters home in Friendswood, Texas. Tom was born on June 25, 1928 in Detroit to the late Hezzie and Elizabeth (Ellis) Charlton.

Prior to the Eighth grade Tom's father, mother and sister moved to Millington, Michigan from the Detroit area where Tom, also known affectionately as "Big Tom", graduated from Millington High School. He excelled at football, basketball, baseball, track and making lifelong friends. Growing up he would often walk to the north end of Murphy Lake to rent a boat and fish the day away. As an adult, he purchased lots at the south end of Murphy Lake, where he raised his six children and started Tom's Landing, a boat livery. Upon his retirement from General Motors as a General Motors Security Officer, aka: "The Factory Fuzz" he purchased his home in Oscoda, MI on Lake Huron as he so loved the water and spending quality time with his children and grandchildren on the beach having campfires and cooking smores. He attended Murray State University for 2 years, majoring in Geology, playing on the football and basketball teams there. During the Korean War, he was drafted and served in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps being stationed in Denver, Colorado. Big Tom had a passion for the outdoors, nature, driving across the country visiting his family and friends, fishing and hunting.

He is survived by the mother of his 6 children Marianne R. Charlton, 4 daughters Ann Weinzierl, Beth Piercy (Alan Piercy), Carol Bugai, Denise Khreis (Rocky Road Khreis), 2 sons Thomas Charlton (Jill) and Mark Charlton, sister Ruth Carlson, 13 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, 2 nieces and life long friends. He was proceeded in death by his mother, father and uncle whom he was named after; Thomas William Ellis who was killed in France Aug. 8th, 1918 in WWI.

The family will receive friends at the Hanlin Funeral Home in Millington on Thursday March 9, 2017 from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and for a brief time Friday from 10:00 am until services begin. Funeral services for Tom will also be held at the Hanlin Funeral Home in Millington on Friday March 10, 2017 at 11:00 am. The burial will follow at the Millington Twp. Cemetery. You're welcome to express condolences, share a memory or light a memory candle at the guestbook page.

HANLIN FUNERAL HOME

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