Obituaries

Charles Thom III, Former Sussex County Fire Marshal, Dies at 73

At heart, Thom was a five-decade firefighter who served as a member and officer of companies in Kittatinny and Newton.

Charles Arthur Thom, III,  who spent 21 years as Sussex County's fire marshal, died at his Newton home last Thursday, according to a notice on the website of the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home. He was 73 years old.

Thom lived his entire life in Newton. He was an entomologist with the state Department of Agriculture's Plan Industry division for 31 years, served as fire marshal for Sussex County for more than two decades, and prior to his retirement was chief inspector for the Newton Fire Prevention Bureau. He also served as the fire sub-code official for Newton, Branchville, Hamburg, Franklin, Fredon and Mt. Arlington until his retirement.

Thom was a committeeman and a life member of the New Jersey Firemen's Association, the New Jersey State Exempt Firemen's Association and the Sussex County Firemen's Association; a charter member of the Sussex County Fire Prevention Association; and a member and past president of the Newton Exempt Firemen's Association. He also belonged to the National Fire Protection Association, the New Jersey Association of Arson Investigators, the International Association of the Arson Investigators and was a past member of the New York State Fire Chiefs Association.

At heart, Thom was a firefighter. His family said he proudly served as a member of Kittatinny Hose & Ladder Co. #1, where he was captain and lieutenant. He was also a dedicated member of the Newton Fire Department from 1961 to 2013 and served as chief from 1979 to 1982 and also from 1997 to 2002.

Thom was a member of the New Jersey State High School Wrestling Officials Association from 1960 to 1994. 

He was honored in 1978 as Citizen of the Year by Newton VFW Post 5360. In 1982, he was named Fireman of the Year by Don Bosco Council 7784, Knights of Columbus.

Thom is survived by his wife, Cheryl Lynn Thom; children Michael and Tracey Thom of Andover, Richard and Myrna Thom of Las Vegas, Gary and Lori Thom of Las Vegas and Charlotte Thom and Brian Crawford of Byram; sister Nancy Bigelow and brother-in-law Ray Bigelow of Canyonville, Ore.; step-children Amanda and Robert Mack of Sandyston and Ashley and Jonathan Frato of Branchville; 15 grand- and step-grandchildren. 

Visitation will be held Monday, Dec. 2nd, from 3 to 9 p.m., with Firefighters' Services at 8 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Newton, 54 High St. in Newton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at St. Joseph R.C. Church in Newton. Interment will be held in Newton Cemetery.

Memorial Donations may be made to The Newton Fire Museum, 150 Spring St., Newton, N.J. 07860. 

Arrangements are under the direction of the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 
63 High Street, Newton.


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