Ruth Ann Thomas

Ruth Ann Thomas, 77, of Port Sanilac, Michigan passed away peacefully on January 6, 2021. Ruth was born October 11,1943 to the late Lyle and Freda DeLong in Deckerville, Michigan. Ruth had ten siblings, five sisters and five brothers.

Ruth graduated from Deckerville High School, then went to Michigan State University where she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education with a specialty in Reading. Ruth was an avid Spartan fan. Ruth and Peter Thomas married in 1966, residing in Grosse Pointe Woods for over 30 years before relocating to their beloved home in Port Sanilac, Michigan on the beautiful Lake Huron. Ruth is survived by her husband Peter and their two children: Charles Thomas (Marie) of Grosse Pointe Woods; and Pamela Mowatt of Grosse Pointe Woods. Ruth is also survived by her four grandchildren: Ethan Mowatt, Annaliese Thomas, Tyler Mowatt and Sarabeth Thomas. 

Ruth played a huge role as an elementary and middle school teacher for Lakeview Public Schools in St. Clair Shores. She shaped the lives of many children and was a highly respected educator and friend among her peers. Ruth’s firm yet kind approach taught her students that motivational learning, hard work, and giving it your best were the means to success. Ruth relished life and endeavored to experience every aspect of it through her and Pete's vast travels; from their many sailing trips among the US and British Virgin Islands, to rafting the Colorado River through the heart of the Grand Canyon, to exploring Australia and New Zealand, cruising the Danube, and countless other trips around the country and world. Ruth spent many winters in Scottsdale, Arizona, golfing and enjoying her wonderful friends. Ruth cherished these adventures and always had a story to tell about her travels, with a pretty humorous one often tucked in there.

Ruth’s laugh was contagious and can still be heard when stories are recounted and the memories shared of times spent with her. Ruth loved to journal every detail of her and Pete’s travel and experiences, from the places visited, sites seen, and cuisine experienced. She was an incredibly talented and descriptive writer, so much so that one reading these pages feels as though they are present in the very moments and places Ruth experienced. 

Ruth truly enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren; she had a special connection with each one. She loved to watch her grandchildren compete in their various athletics, never wanting to be interrupted during a meet or game, with an intensity for her grandchildren to run, swim, and play their very best. She admired the grit of her grandchildren in every respect, cheering them on with much enthusiasm and spirit. Ruth loved to tell stories of her own sports played as a child, often how she was the lone girl among the boys, and how she loved to compete and often surprised them with her skill. Ruth was also a very gracious, gentle, and caring soul. Many looked to her as a mentor, for her sage guidance as a wife, mother, educator, and friend, and her no-nonsense advice. Ruth enjoyed golfing with Pete and also took pleasure in her weekly golf outings with her “gals” from the Huron Shores Golf Club, as well as taking part in the annual Thomas Family Reunion golf outings and barbeques. She was also an avid gardener and maintained an expansive number of perennial beds around their home in Port Sanilac. Ruth would trade plants with family, friends, and neighbors and taught her children the fine art of ditch digging lilies if there was a color she didn’t have in a ditch somewhere she passed by. Ruth's beautiful soul will live on and flourish not only in Port Sanilac but at the homes of her children and friends near and far from all of her plant swapping and sharing.  

 Ruth will be remembered as many exceptional things: a wonderful and supportive partner, devoted wife, working mother, and loving grandmother; a kind, generous and humble woman; a brilliant educator and inspirer of children; a traveler and explorer who never lost sight of how much there is to see in the world; a lover of sports and competition; a master gardener; a woman with an unparalleled ability to light up a crowd and room with her stories and laughter, and a person committed to her friends and family and making sure that everyone around her was included and felt loved.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Joan of Arc Church in St. Clair Shores on February 13, 2021 at 12 noon.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of America. https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=32112&32112.donation=form1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=32112&32112.donation=form1">https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=32112&32112.donation=form1