Thomas J. Kamide Sr., 84 of 611 State St., died May 6, 2009, in the Samaritan Keep Home, Watertown.

He was born Nov. 2, 1924 in Carthage, the son of Paul and Selma Bahou Kamide. 

He served in the Army from 1943 to 1945 with Company C, 818th Tank Destroyer Battalion. He served in Ardennes, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe.

He attended Augustinian Academy and later graduated after returning from the war. He worked at Crown Zellerbach Corp and drove cab for his cousin and brother.

In the early 50's, together with his brother Caream, they operated Kamide's Grill on lower State St. He operated his own cab service during that time.

In the mid 60's the property was sold and he opened Tommy's Restaurant in the 300 block of State St.

The business was later named Kamide's Grill until he sold the business in 1986. He married the former Rita A. Villnave on Sept. 29, 1973 in Watertown.

A previous marriage to Virginia Abdella ended in divorce.

 

He was a member of the American Legion Post # 789, VFW Post # 7227, BPOE Lodge # 1762 and the Knights of Columbus Council # 291, all of Carthage.

He leaves his wife Rita A. of Carthage. four daughters and their husbands, Mary E. and John McCloe of Johnson City, Selma A. and Michael Thorpe of West Palm Beach, FL, Charlene M. and Hannibal Chakhtoura of West Palm Beach, FL and Elaine and Terry Montgomery of Carthage, three sons and their wives Thomas J. and Janine Kamide Jr. of Baldwinsville, Paul T. and Maureen Kamide of Vestal and Barry and Tracey Steinberg of Potsdam, 12 Grandchildren, 9 Great Grandchildren, a sister: Carmel Kamide of Carthage and two brothers: George of Carthage and the Rt. Rev. Paul Kamide of South Daytona, FL and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by two brothers, Caream and Harris and two sisters, Agnes Nutter and Genevieve Kamide. 

Funeral Services will be Saturday at 10:00 AM at St. James Catholic Church with the Rev. George F. Maroun, Pastor officiating.  Burial will military honors will be in St. James Cemetery. 

Family and friends may call at the Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home on Friday from 2 - 4 and 6-8 pm.

Memorial services will be conducted Friday evening at 6:15pm by the American Legion followed by the Elks at 6:45pm, the VFW at 7:15pm and the K of C at 7:45pm.