Thomas Gargus

CHARLESTON - The Rev. Thomas Clifford Gargus, 76, died at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 17, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

Born March 1, 1925, in Crouth, son of the late Jesse C. and Cynthia Poe Gargus, he lived in Sikeston for the past five years. Ordained by the Assemblies of God in 1951, he had served as pastor of many churches and was an evangelist for nondenominational tent meetings before retiring. After serving with the U.S. Army during World War II, he entered the U.S. Army in 1947, where he was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., with the 82nd Division of Army Paratroopers until 1949. In 1950, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Korean War until 1951. Gargus was active with the Army National Guard Reserves in Vista, Calif., until retiring in 1961.

On April 3, 1948, he married Georgia A. Ross who survives of the home.

Other survivors include: three sons, Ron Gargus of Lawton, Okla., the Rev. John Gargus of Charleston and Richard Gargus of Firelake, Mich.; two daughters, Regina Ortt of Lake City, Fla., and Rita Gail Meissner of Indian Mounds, Tenn.; one brother, Jesse Gargus of Fort Myers, Fla.; and two sisters, Sondra G. Barnard of Sacramento, Calif., and Anita Gargus of Michigan.

Graveside services are scheduled for 10 am. Monday at Oak Grove Cemetery near Charleston. The Rev. John Gargus of Charleston will officiate.

McMikle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.