Together Again
Surrounded by her loving family, Ann Thomas (nee Marshall), 82, passed peacefully into the loving arms of God on Thursday, May 24, 2018, after a lengthy illness. Born and raised in the sun-kissed hills and lush green valleys of Oak Hill, West Virginia, she was the youngest daughter of nine children born to Eddie and Eva Lee (Johnson) Marshall.
It was in West Virginia where she met the love of her life, Bobby Dale Thomas. After marrying, like many of that era, they left West Virginia moving to Ohio with their young family. Settling in Elyria, they raised five children while Bob worked long hours at General Motors and Ann kept house, fed and cleaned for children that might best be described as rambunctious. The importance of family, faith and hard work were daily lessons, used to help set the moral compass for their children.
Ann sang in the church choir and in a women's trio, while also serving as a member of numerous committees while attending first the Elyria and then the North Ridgeville Church of God. She and Bob later moved the family to North Ridgeville and when all of the children had completed high school, they retired to Florida. There, Bob found a second career selling real estate and they both remained active in the Thonotosassa Church of God. After the passing of Bob, she moved to Katy, Texas to be near her two daughters and grandchildren.
Ann will always be remembered for her infectious laugh, her love and devotion to her family and her passion for life. She was happiest when surrounded by her kids, especially during game night, where she loved to dominate. She enjoyed trying new restaurants, family travel trips or regaling everyone with stories of her life in the coal camps of her youth. It was always humorous to hear her recount some incredibly insane stunt one of her children had engaged in and emerged unscathed, but destined to face her wrath. It was only later in life her oldest son realized he actually had more than half a brain.
Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, in 1998, to whom she had been married almost 50 years. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Velva King, Camilla Miller, Hilda Eads, Ellen Kirk and brothers, Buck, Donald and Thomas Marshall.
She is survived by her daughters, Joyce (Noah) Bell and Kevina Thomas, both of Katy; sons, Richard D. "Rick" (Debbie) Thomas of North Ridgeville, William H. "Bill" (Sue) Thomas of Grafton and Kevin S. (Rhonda) Thomas of Raeford, North Carolina; brother, Frank (Ruth) Marshall of Huguley, Alabama, as well as a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were private and she was laid to rest next to Bob in Brandon, Florida. A celebration of life service will be held Sunday, July 15th, 2018 in Katy, Texas.
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