Lewis Thomas DeBose, 91, of Willard passed gently from his earthly life Friday night, April 6, 2012 at Pender Memorial Hospital.

He was born June 2, 1920 in Pender County, the son of the late James Lee DeBose and Etha Gertrude Woodcock DeBose. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Grace Horrell DeBose in 1974; brothers, Arthur, Robert, Bernice, Fitzgerald, Morris, Linwood and Roy; and sisters, Ellen, Ruby, Zara and Dorothy.

Tom is survived by his wife of 27 years, Mary Humbles DeBose; son, Larry Thomas DeBose (Debbie) of Wallace; daughters, Sandra Canady (Gerry) of Clayton, Sheila Deitz (Gaither) of Wilmington and Cheryl Cobb of Ivanhoe; step-children, Ann Wood (Johnny) of Chinquapin, Richard Harrell (Linda) of Morehead City, and James Harrell of Castle Hayne; grandchildren, Gina DeBose, Crysti DeBose, Jared Yeo, Tonya Barnes, Britt Fussell, Megan Deitz, Travis Deitz, Jessica Braden, Jared Cobb and Daniel Braden; nine step-grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren; sister, Lottie Squires of Hampstead; and many loving extended family.

Mr. DeBose served his country honorably in the US Army Air Corps during WW II. He was a retired Pender County farmer.

Tom was a kind man with a gentle and courageous spirit who loved and cared for his family. For many years as long as his health permitted he was an excellent farmer, always enjoyed tilling the soil and being a good steward of God's beautiful earth. Above all else Tom loved his family and was a blessed husband, daddy, granddaddy and brother.

Funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m. Monday, April 9, 2012 at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel with the Rev. Ralph Evans officiating. Burial will follow in Boney Family Cemetery on the DeBose farm. Casketbearers will be Alex Squires, Kenneth DeBose, Ryan Dyson, Gaither Deitz, Jared Cobb, and Daniel Braden. Honorary bearer will be Britt Fussell

The family will receive friends at the funeral home at 2:00 p.m. on Monday until hour of the service.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial gifts may be given to Alzheimer's Association, 1305 Navaho Dr., Raleigh NC 27609.

Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family by selecting "Memory Wall" above.

Funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m. Monday, April 9, 2012 at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel with the Rev. Ralph Evans officiating. Burial will follow in Boney Family Cemetery on the DeBose farm.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home at 2:00 p.m. on Monday until hour of the service.