Antonio, TX on July 27, 2019 at the age of 87. Laura was born in San
Antonio, TX to Frank and Lucina Rivas on November 29, 1931. She was a
beautiful, intelligent, loving mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt
and loyal friend that will be dearly missed.
When Laura was growing up, she took little jobs in the neighborhood to
help her family. There was one job with a German lady who wanted
companionship more than she wanted help for her housework. The
German lady started taking Laura shopping and buying her pretty dresses,
and because she enjoyed her company so much, she asked Laura’s parents
if she could adopt her. Well her Mom said a big, “NO!!!” What the German
lady didn’t realize is that Laura was taking all her new dresses home and
was sharing them with her sisters. She shared everything. That was just the
type of person Laura was as a child and as a friend, sibling and later as a
mother and wife.
As a young lady, Laura would take her siblings to the drive-in. She would pile
them anywhere in the car, even the trunk, just so no one was left behind.
She sacrificed her time and energy when her mother came down with
pneumonia and could not care for the baby brother. Laura cared for her
brother for about two to three years until her mother was strong enough to
care for him. Her self-sacrificing spirit was never forgotten.
Later, as a young woman, Laura met and fell in love at first sight with her
husband, Edward Thomas, Sr. She and Edward were inseparable. They loved
to dance together, work together and raise a family together. When she and
Edward had a little restaurant, Ringo’s, she made sure her plates were
always full with the good things she cooked; and like her plates, she made
sure that her children’s lives were full of joy and happiness. Laura worked
very hard to give her children, Elizabeth and Edward, everything they
needed or wanted. She would often say that she wanted them to have as
much education and happiness as they could get. As the “boss” of Ringo’s,
she often hired people that needed work. One friend that Laura hired was a
single parent who was trying to raise and feed three children. She
concluded, “I will forever be grateful for her generosity and kindness.”
We shall never forget her contagious smile and laugh. How blessed we were
to know Laura and have the memories of a wonderful mother, wife,
daughter, sister, grandmother and aunt.
Laura Rose Thomas was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter,
Elizabeth Fluiett, her brothers: Lawrence Rivas, Roy Rivas and Frank Rivas
and sisters: Nell Porter and Ruby Rivas. She is survived by her loving and
devoted husband of 63 years, Edward Thomas Sr., her son Edward Thomas
Jr. and wife, Leonor, sisters: Mary Ruiz, Polly Anderson, Lilly Kidd, Della
Gallien, brothers: Tony Rivas, Albert Rivas, and numerous nieces and
nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff of Autumn Leaves Memory Care for
their tender and loving care of Laura.
