The death has taken place of Thomas Henry McDaniel, peacefully after a short illness, at his home at 37 Ferney View, Ballinamallard.

Popularly known as Tom, he was 90 in January.

Born and brought up at Tullyvannon, near Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone, he was the eldest of three children of Tom and Mabel McDaniel. His brother, David, still resides at Tullyvannon, and his only sister, Lydia emigrated to the United States as a young woman and lives in Wisconsin.

After being educated locally at Cranlume School and working for a time on the family farm, Tom joined the Royal Navy as a teenager early in World War Two. After initial training in the south of England, he served in the Far East and east Africa.

On returning back to Northern Ireland in the late 1940s, he came to Enniskillen to take up a position with Taylor-Woods.

When he first came to Enniskillen, he lived with his uncle, Sergeant Andy Trimble, an instructor in the RUC Training Centre and grandfather of the current Irish rugby international of the same name.

Tom met and married Iris Woods and they eventually set up home in Riverside, Cornagrade, where their two older children, Denzil and Colleen were born. In 1960, Mr. McDaniel moved to near Dungannon to take up work at Stevenson’s mill in Moygashel.

After studying agriculture at evening class, he obtained scholarships to study at Greenmount College and spend time in France studying farming methods. On his return, he secured a position as Inspector with the Ministry of Agriculture, based at the Crown buildings. The family moved to Coleshill Crescent, where their third child, David was born. Tom’s wife Iris passed away in 1972 at the age of 40.

His work responsibility included visiting farmers in areas of the county, where he gained a reputation for his honesty, fairness and integrity. He moved to Cherry Walk, Chanterhill in the late 1970s, and in 1988 he married Anna Graham.

After his retirement, Tom and Anna enjoyed a busy and active life. They were members of Mullaghmeen Baptist Church, the third Baptist Church Tom had been involved in helping set up. He was one of eight founding members of Stonepark Baptist Church in 1956, and is the last surviving founder member. When the family moved to Enniskillen in the 1960s, he helped found the church there, firstly meeting in the old YMCA rooms, then Wellington Place and finally building a church at Kilmacormick Road.

Having been saved at a gospel mission at the age of 24, he spent a lifetime witnessing, including open air meetings at the Diamond, Enniskillen with a group of men which included his friend, W T McClintock. Tom’s wisdom and advice encouraged many Baptist members of all ages and, indeed, those of other Christian denominations.

He had a lifelong interest in photography, and as well as working as a freelance with the Impartial Reporter for a number of years, he undertook wedding photography. Having been an early influence in Enniskillen Photographic Society, he gained a number of awards for his work.

Gifted also with technological ability, he took a great interest in computers in particular. He was a website designer, and even up until weeks before his passing he was still using his iPad as well as downloading books to read on his Kindle.

Tom continued to study throughout his life, and at the age of 80 gained a degree in Theology, before going to gain a Masters and a Ph.D for work which included an impressive thesis on the work of Saint Paul.

Tom and Anna also enjoyed travel, both abroad and throughout Ireland.

Tom is survived by his wife, Anna.

He also leaves three children; son Denzil (and his wife Heather) grandchildren Helen, Paul, Sarah and David; daughter Colleen and grand-daughter Solange, and son, David (his wife Lorraine) and grandchildren, Stephanie and Stuart.

He is also survived by five stepchildren, Nigel and family, Derek (Sandra) Lorna and William, Doreen (Ronald) Mark and Dean, Thelma (Lawrence) Lindsay and Lorna (Clive) Kyle and Aaron.

He also leaves a number of great-grandchildren, as well as his brother, David and sister, Lydia.

After a brief family service at the home in Ballinamallard, the remains were removed to Mullaghmeen Baptist, where the service was conducted by Pastor Harry Dowds, minister of Stonepark Baptist, with the Mullaghmeen Minister, Pastor Robert Millar reading the Scripture and saying prayers. Denzil McDaniel paid tribute to his father, and Solange McDaniel sang a solo “Take the world but give me Jesus.” Organist at the service was Joan Irwin (née Compton), whose family were close friends of Tom’s.

After the service, the cortege moved to Knockconny Baptist Church, where burial took place. The committal was undertaken by Pastor Barrie Clingan.

Funeral arrangements were by SR Elliott, Darling Street, Enniskillen.