Carla Spaatz Thomas

Carla S. Thomas, age 90, of Chevy Chase died peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on December 13, 2022. She is survived by seven of her children: Ruth Thomas, Carl Thomas, Raechel Andreassi (Anthony), Rebecca Palo (Tim), Sarah Thomas (George Warren), Carla Barrett (James), and Jenny Thomas (Christopher Martinez). She also leaves behind 16 grandchildren–Michael Thomas; James, Katia (Christopher Dye), and Sophie Andreassi; Geoffrey (Emily Heinlein) and Stephen Palo; George, Carl Andrew, Benjamin, and Hilleary Warren; Thomas, Anna, and Christopher Barrett; and Sarah, Katharine, and Joseph Frengel–and two great-granddaughters, Tessa and Clara Dye. She is also survived by her nieces–Edith Laver, Katharine Gresham, and Rebecca Wayne Gresham–and her lifelong friend, Sally Wilson Viscount. She was preceded in death by her son, Michael, and her sisters, Katharine Bell and Rebecca Nagel.

Born on December 26, 1931, in Santa Monica, California, Carla was the youngest daughter of the late General Carl Andrew “Tooey” Spaatz and Ruth Harrison Spaatz. For the next few years, Carla, known as “Boopsie,” moved with her family to various postings in the United States, including Washington, D.C., which became their permanent residence with the outbreak of World War II and General Spaatz’s appointment in 1947 as the first Chief of Staff of the independent Air Force. As a young teen during the war, Carla did volunteer work, including serving meals at the USO.

Carla graduated from St. Agnes Episcopal School in Alexandria and attended Smith College for two years where she studied voice and Italian. In 1951, she married Francis D. Thomas, Jr., and joined him in Hanover, New Hampshire, while he finished his studies at Dartmouth. In 1954, they settled in Chevy Chase where she raised her children. After her marriage ended, she found employment outside the home in travel services and retail, while continuing her volunteer work, most notably her many years backstage at Lisner Auditorium during The Washington Ballet’s Nutcracker season and as treasurer of the Bethesda Chevy Chase High School PTA.

Her favorite things were singing, murder mysteries, puzzles, mermaids, card games, and her cats. She especially enjoyed being with her family and friends on the porch at her beloved house in Rehoboth Beach where she had vacationed every summer since her first visit at 18 months. Known for her beautiful smile, her quiet strength, her sense of humor, and her way of showing love with very few words, she will be greatly missed.

Per her wishes, a memorial cocktail party will be held in the spring. Donations in her memory may be made to the Spaatz Association, spaatz.org; the General Carl Spaatz National USAAF Museum, spaatzmuseum.org; and Montgomery Hospice, montgomeryhospice.org.