Hazel THOMAS

HAZEL A. THOMAS, 99, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., formerly of Lima, died at 6:45 a.m. Dec. 2, 2006, at Brookdale Cypress Village, Jacksonville, Fla. She was born April 22, 1907, near Belleville, Wood County, W.Va., to Arthur and Myrtle White Sams, who preceded her in death. In 1922, she married Robert D. Thomas, who died in February 1969. On June 20, 1985, she married Earl Willeke, who died Feb. 25, 1995. Mrs. Thomas was a homemaker. She attended Ponte Vedra Presbyterian Church, Ponte Vedra, Fla., where she participated in its intercessory prayer group. She had been a member of First Church of God, Lima, where she was president of the Missionary Society and served on the church council, and Gardendale Church of GoD. She had been a member of a Church of God for more than 50 years. She was a volunteer for several non-profit organizations. She had served as president of the Lima chapter of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She attended welcoming receptions at the White House, as a guest of President Ronald Reagan, for Prime Minister Rajiv Ghandi and other heads of state. She enjoyed going to activities with her friends, sewing, quilting and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed traveling, including trips to the Florida Keys, Mount Rushmore, Wyoming and to Colorado. She assisted in planning family reunions. She moved to Ohio from West Virginia in 1922, then to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., in 1994. Survivors include three daughters, Pauline (Grover) Geiger, of Pandora, Annita Dodson, of Parkland, Fla., and Janet Herring, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; three sons, Edsel (Bonnie) Thomas, of Ormond Beach, Fla., Delynn (Linda) Thomas, of Fairfax Station, Va., and Dan (Frances) Thomas, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; a stepson, Elmer (Thelma) Willeke, of Goldendale, Wash.; a daughter-in-law, Dorothee Thomas; 15 grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; six stepgreat-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Marcus Thomas; and two sons-in-law, Gene Herring and Henry Dodson. Services will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home. The Rev. Terry Davy will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call one hour prior to services Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Anderson University School of Theology, 1100 E. Fifth St., Anderson, IN 46012-3495. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.