DATE: Wednesday, July 2, 1997               TAG: 9707020468

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   36 lines

THOMAS B. CAMPER

Thomas Blake Camper, 54, president and CEO of Camper Enterprises Inc. and Commonwealth Yarn Sales Inc., located in New York and Williamsburg, died June 30, 1997. He was also chairman of the board of Virginia Commonwealth Textiles, LLC, Williamsburg.

While residing in the New York metropolitan area for 18 years, he was a member of Bergen Baptist Church in Waldwick, N.J., where he served as a deacon, chairman of the finance committee, and chairperson of the building program for a new sanctuary. Upon returning to Virginia Beach in 1993, he became an active member of Great Neck Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday School teacher and as co-chairman of the building committee. Mr. Camper was a member of the Masonic Lodge 274 AF & AM, and he was also a member of the Hatteras Marlin Club.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Lyon; his mother, Claudine Camper Clarke; his children, John Carlton Camper, Tara Dawn Hagy and Shelley Renea Camper; sisters, Jennifer Smith of Virginia Beach and Celeste Manning of Greensboro, N.C.; a daughter-in-law, Lori Beth Camper; son-in-law, James Hagy; three grandchildren, Emory, Olivia and Blake Camper; and numerous nephews and nieces.

A devoted Christian, husband, son, father, grandfather, and friend, he will be missed by all.

A memorial service will be conducted 2 p.m. Thursday at Great Neck Baptist Church by the Rev. Bill Kincaid. The family will receive friends at the funeral home today from 6 to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Great Neck Baptist Church Building Fund, 1020 General Jackson Drive, Virginia Beach, Va. 23454. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, Laskin Road Chapel, are handling arrangements. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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