Loving daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, Ronnie will be missed dearly by all in her family and friends for her listening ear, positive attitude, caring and loving demeanor, curious mind, her relationship-building, and the example she set on how to treat others.
Ronnie was born in Washington, D.C., on February 20, 1963, to Fred Charles Thomas Jr. and Catherine Mary Frank. Ronnie grew up as a US Foreign Service Officer dependent, both her parents being State Department Officers. In her youth, she lived in such places as Pakistan, Germany, Vietnam, India, Switzerland, and Japan. While residing in the United States, Ronnie grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, and lived there most of her adult life. She graduated with honors from Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, MD, in 1981. In high school she participated in debate and extemporaneous speaking. In 1985, Ronnie graduated from Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, with a BA in Political Science and East Asian Studies. During Ronnie’s studies at Bucknell, she attended International Christian University, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan, for a year (1983-1984) to study Japanese culture and history. Ronnie loved all things Japanese, and was fluent in the Japanese language, in addition to French.
Early in her career, Ronnie worked for Tokyu Department Store in Tokyo, Japan, and for the Export-Import Bank of Japan in Washington, D.C. She later worked, for many years, in the health foods sector as an independent contractor for Herbal Life in the Washington, D.C. Metro area. Ronnie attended McClean Bible Church for many of those years. Ronnie had a multitude of talents, and derived much joy from playing competition Scrabble, knitting blankets for family, friends and those in need, playing Bridge, completing Crossword puzzles, reading, writing, as well as watching Disney and musical movies. Ronnie appreciated music, and took comfort in singing, as well as playing the piano and flute.
Veronica had several health challenges most of her adult life. Throughout these challenges, she approached her life in a positive manner that allowed her to see beyond these obstacles and reach out with love to those less fortunate. Veronica is survived by her brother, Fred Charles Thomas III; sister-in-law, Carol Boyce Thomas; nephew, Keegan Charles Thomas; and niece, Riley Kaye Thomas, all of Fort Collins, CO. She was predeceased by her parents.
A service to celebrate Veronica’s life will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, at 2:00 p.m., at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 101 North Howes Street, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521. A final inurnment, with her parents at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA, is planned. Veronica’s family suggests memorial contributions be made to The Murphy Center for Hope, (http://murphycenter.org/donate) or SummitStone Health Partners, (https://www.summitstonehealth.org/how-to-give/).
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