Thomas Mariner

On Monday, May 24, 2021, Thomas Lewis Mariner, loving husband, father and grandfather, was called home to be with our Lord and savior. Thomas, affectionately called Bobby by family and Tom by friends in California, was born on August 5, 1936 in Norfolk, Virginia to James Walter Mariner, Sr. and Helen Stephens Mariner. He was one of five children: James Jr., Gloria, Delores and Joseph. Joseph and Gloria preceded him in death. After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, he worked as a Window dresser at a department store. During this time, he came across an ad in a magazine for the US Marines which excited him so much that he decided to sign up. Following discharge from the Marines, he worked for Slick Airlines but was unhappy with living in Norfolk with its cold climate. He always dreamed of living in sunny California, so when an opportunity came to hitch a ride to San Francisco, California with a friend, he jumped on it. The weather in San Francisco proved to be too cold for him, too. and after three months, he left and headed for sunny Los Angeles. Tom met his devoted wife, Glenda in Los Angeles through mutual friends and they were married for fifty-one years. Four children were born to this union. He was employed by the City of Los Angeles for thirty-one years as a traffic enforcement officer. After his retirement, he went to work part-time for America West Airlines, later American Airlines. This allowed him and Glenda to visit many cities and countries throughout the world, especially to Paris, his favorite. Tom had many passions in life; his most fervent was his commitment to Christ and his church-Bethlehem Church of God Holiness. He was head deacon at the church for several years and for 45 of those years, he served tirelessly and faithfully as president of the Youth Auxiliary, Young People's Union and Sunday School Superintendent. Tom was known to many as a "jack-of-all-trades." Whether it was a leaky faucet, paint job, gardening, cleaning, a ride to church, you could depend on him to come to your rescue. Tom leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife, Glenda Elyse; sons Timothy, Terrin (Maria), Kevin and daughter Kashawn; grandson, Jayden; granddaughters Logan Elyse and Dylan Sylvia; brother, James W. Mariner, Jr. (Betty); sister Delores Stringfellow; Thomas Jr; Keith; nieces, nephews and the many members of the Churches of God Holiness.