Roy "Ben" Thyon Christopher Thomas

Asheville – Roy “Ben” Thyon Christopher Thomas, 40, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

A native and lifelong resident of Buncombe County, he was a son of Fran and Michael Clark and the late Frank Thomas, Sr. He was also preceded in death by his grandparents: Mae Doan Thomas, Victor Thyon Lim, and Lani Yee; and great-uncle, Peter Lim.

Ben graduated from Erwin High School in 2002 before enlisting in 2004 in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served the Al Quaim 7th Command BN BT, having served in Iraq. After leaving the Marine Corps, he enlisted in the Army and served the 357th Eng Company. Following his military service he worked with the Asheville Fire Department from 2010 till recently having served as the Deputy Fire Marshall.

Ben loved taking vacations with his #1 traveling buddy and son, Samuel. He was a wonderful father, as well as a great son, brother, uncle, boyfriend, and friend to many. He also enjoyed cooking for those he loved.

Those left to cherish his memory are his mother and step-father, Fran and Michael Clark; son, Samuel Thomas; sister, Tanya Snipes of Charlotte; nieces: Karissa Snipes, and Kendall Snipes both of Charlotte; Aunt, Evie Davis of South Carolina; cousins: Hubert and Jenny Lee of Redwood, CA, Alanna and Adoria Lim of San Francisco, CA, and Jeanette Altman and Edwin Pittillo of South Carolina; girlfriend, Kim Cowan; and many extended family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 12 PM on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at Erwin Hills Baptist Church, 281 New Leicester Hwy, Asheville, NC 28806, with Pastor Andy McDevitt and Rev. John Honeycutt officiating. Firefighters Funeral Honors will be provided by the Asheville Firefighters Association. Burial will follow at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery with military funeral honors provided by the U.S. Marine Corps.

The family will receive friends on Monday from 5 till 7 PM at Anders-Rice Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to the PTSD Foundation of America, 9724 Derrington Rd, Houston, TX 77064 or online at ptsdusa.org

Anders-Rice Funeral Home and Cremation Center is honored to serve Ben’s family.