THOMASVILLE, Ga. - Graveside services for Tharon Giddens Sr. of Thomasville are at 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 2, 2008, at Laurel Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Ramon Hernandez officiating. Mr. Giddens died March 31 at his residence. He was a Nashville native and the long-time owner of Home Appliance Co. in Thomasville. He met his wife of 62 years, Jeanne, during World War II while they were both serving on a hospital ship. He was a enlisted man and she was a registered nurse, an officer, so they weren't supposed to fraternize, but love prevailed. They were secretly wed on Oct. 6, 1945, on a port stop in New York City. They moved to Thomasville after the war and lived in the same house on Schley Street for 60 years. Mr. Giddens used his G.I. bill funds for technical training in Thomasville and worked several years with Jimmy Whiddon before opening his own repair and sales business. He loved his job and continued working into his 80s. He was a kind, gentle man and always had an affinity for the underdog. He would often perform work for the poor and elderly with no expectation of pay. He had a fierce love of family and was a quietly doting father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Survivors include his wife, Jeanne Coyle Giddens; his children, Sharon Jeanne Giddens, Tharon and Donna Sela-Giddens II; seven grandchildren, Kristina Jeanne and Donald Foster, Jay and Shawn Jones; Elizabeth, Tharon III and Michael Giddens; three great-grandchildren, Abigail, Amelia and Ava Foster; a nephew, George Ronald Lopozer; and friends, Ed and Evelyn Gay. Memorials may be made to the Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society, 180 Big Star Drive, Thomasville, Ga. 31757. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., today at the funeral home. Visitors may sign the online guest register at www.timesenterprise.com/obits . Ñ Whiddon-Shiver Funeral Sign the guestbook at AugustaChronicle.com
The Augusta Chronicle-April 2, 2008
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