Obituary of Ruth M. Thomas

Mrs. Ruth M. Thomas, 85, of Centerville, passed away at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, September 16, 2014, at Saint Vincent Health Center in Erie. Ruth was born in Bremerhaven, Germany on February 7, 1929 to the late Franz and Julia Maria Frazika Kowaczek Schafer. Ruth graduated from school in Germany and went on to training to be a seamstress. She met her husband Robert Thomas overseas and became his wife on December 4, 1948 in Bremerhaven, Germany. Robert and Ruth were married for sixty-five years, when he preceded her in death on May 26, 2014. Mrs. Thomas was a cafeteria worker for the Union City School District for many years and was a great housewife. She was a member of the Our Lady of Fatima Church in Canadohta Lake. She taught religion classes at her home for the church for many years. Mrs. Thomas was a lifetime member of the Bloomfield VFD Ladies Auxiliary since 1955 and served as treasurer for them since 1960. Ruth sat on the Election Board of Bloomfield Township for thirty-five years, and held the position of Judge of Election for many of those years. She enjoyed doing word search, cooking, canning, spending time with her grandchildren, and going to their softball games. Mrs. Thomas is survived by two sons, Norman Thomas and wife Gina of Centerville, Robbie Thomas and wife Shelly of Union City; three daughters, Fran Whitehill and husband Duane of Titusville, Zelma McMahon and husband Jack of Titusville, and Rita Bennett and husband Jeff of Union City; five grandchildren, Kristi Henderson and husband Rick, Kyle McMahon, Ryan, Kaila, and Kourtney Thomas; three great grandchildren, Danielle and Josh Turner, and Joey Tartara; four step-grandchildren; five step great grandchildren; three step great - great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and a dear friend, Nancie Humes. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a sister, Walburga Eickemeier, a granddaughter, Damaris Tartara; and a grandson, John “Rambo” Deeter. Friends may call at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home 303 N. Washington St., Titusville on Thursday from 2 -4 and 7-9 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 11:00 AM at St. Titus Church with Father Thomas Suppa, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima, as celebrant. Interment will be at Tryonville Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Fatima, 36198 Lake Road, Union City, PA 16438 and the Union City Little League, 81 W. High Street, Union City, PA 16438. If you would like to leave a condolence for the family go to garrettfuneralhomeinc.com. FLOWERS