Vera Thomas

Biography

Vera Arretta Thomas, 87, of Bellefontaine, Ohio and formerly of Sun City West, Arizona, passed away at Lima Memorial Hospital in Lima, Ohio February 4, 2013.

She was born to Charles Adam and Fredah Irene (Jacobs) Thomas May 21, 1925 near Cheshire, Ohio at the home of her grandparents, Willie and Zella Boice Jacobs. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Elizabeth Darnell.

Vera is survived by a daughter, Vickie (Bob) Hill of Bellefontaine; two grandchildren, Kevin (Jane) Hill of Eagle Lake, Florida and Kimberly (Joe) Heater of Bellefontaine; six great grandchildren, Matthew and Kara Hill and Ashleigh, Mackenzie, Isabelle and Brandon Heater; a nephew, Tom (Peggy) Darnell of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and a great nephew, Eric (Laura) Darnell of Louisville, Kentucky.

She was a 1942 graduate of Cheshire High School in Gallia County, Ohio. She worked most of her life at the Holzer Medical Center as a nurse for twenty plus years and retired in the early 1980’s. In 1994 she sold her home near Cheshire and moved with her daughter and son-in-law to Sun City West, Arizona. There she made many friends, belonged to several clubs in the community and went on several trips with other seniors. She loved to travel and never met a stranger.

After moving back to Ohio with her daughter and son-in-law, she joined the Logan County Friendly Senior Center in Bellefontaine and took a two week bus/train trip to Chicago, Texas, California, Washington and across the northern states back to Chicago. Known for her competitive spirit, Vera enjoyed playing softball in her younger years and more recently bocce ball and mini-golf.

She was a member of the Old Kyger Freewill Baptist Church in Cheshire and the Calvary Baptist Church in Bellefontaine.

Vera was very proud of her heritage especially The Roush (Rausch) & Allied Families Association of America, Inc. and First Families of Gallia County.

Calling hours will be Friday, February 8, 2013 from 6 to 8 P.M. at the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine, where Pastor Jeffory Willetts will officiate the 10:30 A.M. funeral service Saturday, February 9, 2013. Interment will be at the Gravel Hill Cemetery in Gallia County Ohio at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions may be made to: Friendly Senior Center 934 S. Main St. Bellefontaine, OH 43311 or Old Kyger Freewill Baptist Church 540 Roush Lane Cheshire, OH 45620