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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Sergeant 
4Benjamin "Ben" Thomas of Marion, who passed away on June 23, 
52011; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, He was born February 10, 1984, in Sedalia, 
7Missouri, to Danny Lee and Susan-Renae (Hopkins) Thomas; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, He honorably served in the United States Army, 
9serving overseas in Iraq with the 211th Transportation Unit; he 
10continued his service to the nation by serving with the 825th 
11AG Company Replacement in Marion; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, He was a member of the Dorrisville Baptist Church 
13in Harrisburg; he was a 2002 graduate of Carbondale Community 
14High School; he earned his Associate's Degree in criminal 
15justice from John A. Logan College; he had an interest in 
16martial arts, where he attained an eighth degree black belt in 
17Kung Fu; he enjoyed playing video games, especially RIFT, but 
18most of all, he loved spending time with his family and 
19friends; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his maternal 
21grandparents, Charles and Evelyn Hopkins; his 
 
 
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1great-grandmother, Janie Lee White; and his paternal 
2great-grandparents, Gus and Nell Thomas; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Sergeant Benjamin "Ben" Thomas is survived by his 
4daughter, Jessa Thomas; his son, William Thomas; his mother and 
5stepfather, Susan-Renae and Dan Walmsley; his father and 
6stepmother, Danny and Susan Thomas; his grandparents, Dean and 
7Linda Thomas  and Sarah Thomas; his sisters and brother-in-law, 
8Ashley and Eric Sparks and Brianna Thomas; his fiancée, Mirinda 
9Hart; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins; therefore, be it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
11NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
12we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of 
13Sergeant Benjamin "Ben" Thomas; and be it further
  
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
15presented to the family of Sergeant Benjamin "Ben" Thomas as a 
16symbol of our sincere sympathy.