Ben Caudle Thomas, Jr. was born in Henderson, Kentucky, on April 25, 1949, to Ben Caudle Thomas, Sr. and Irene Posey. Ben was the oldest of three siblings: his sister Mona, and baby brother Robert. Ben attended Indianapolis Public Schools 41, 87, and 56. He attended Arsenal Technical High School, and later received his GED before enlisting in the US Navy. Ben served in the US Navy for two years, and received an honorable discharge.

Ben returned home from service as a skilled machinist, and quickly found employment, and worked for companies like Allison Transmission, Tom Skinner, and Link Belt. Later in years, Ben also worked other jobs being employed as a Forklift Operator, Line Supervisor, and in the areas of Security. However, there was one job he loved, and took pride being a Chauffeur.

Ben was a bachelor, and he loved life and he lived it. He was a man’s man. He never met a stranger, and was very charismatic. He was sporty in dress, and kept himself looking good wearing, his shinny Stacy Adams.

Ben was the kind of guy that his family never thought he would ever get married. But Sylvia stole His heart away, and Ben C. Thomas, Jr. married Sylvia Coe on December 20, 1997.

Ben’s mother and sister were relentlessly talking to him about Jesus Christ, and soon he answered the knock of Jesus at his door. Ben was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ at Grace Apostolic Church, where the late Bishop Morris E. Golder was pastor. Later in life, Ben renewed his life in Christ and was under the leadership of Bishop Ronald Smith, pastor of God’s Temple where he served in the house of the Lord. Soon Ben joined his sister Mona at Temple of Praise Assembly, and felt the need to be baptized once again in the name of Jesus Christ, where Suffragan Bishop Donald L. Golder is pastor.

Ben Caulde Thomas, Jr. departed this life around 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2016. Ben leaves to cherish his memory: his wife Sylvia Thomas, sons Ai’Dis Terime Thomas, Cameron Gordon Thomas; siblings Mona Thomas-Green and Robert Ray Thomas; god-niece Stacey (Little Bit) Monger; blended sons and daughters Michael Coe, Gordon Turentine, LaDonna Sims, Catrina Turentine, and Shanee Turentine; 18 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and cousins, one  cousin in particular, his running partner Kevin Tyrone Harris.

A funeral service with military honors will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, July 28, 2016 at Indiana Funeral Care and Crematory, Harry W. Moore Chapel, 8151 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN  46250, with visitation for one hour prior to the service.