Mary E. Thomas
Mary E. Thomas, 85, South Whitley, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home.
Born Nov. 12, 1931 in Whitley County, she was the daughter of Harry R., Sr. and W. Joyce (Reed) Bollinger.
While attending Washington Center High School, she worked as an aide at Whitley County Memorial Hospital. Mary interned for a year at the State Mental Institution in Logansport as she studied at Ball State and would graduate with the Class of 1955.
On Jan. 28, 1956 she married Jack G. Thomas at South Whitley Church of the Brethren. As her husband attended Purdue, Mary worked at Home Hospital in Lafayette. For a brief time, she also spent some time at the Huntington Hospital but most of her 41 year career was spent at Whitley County Memorial Hospital, retiring in 2000. She was a member of American Association of Critical Care Nurses, State Board of Nurses, American Heart Association in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiac Care. She also was certified in Emergency Services for EMT and trained with the American Red Cross in basic life support. She was a regular blood donor and a Powder Puff Mechanic. She loved reading her bible, gardening, canning, working with flowers, puzzles, knitting, cross stitching, feeding and whistling at birds, getting together with fellow nurses and shopping. She also enjoyed playing and watching sports and never missed a Lawrence Welk Show.
Survivors include her son, Dave Thomas, of South Whitley; brothers: John P. (Marian) Bollinger, of Columbia City; and Harry R (Velva) Bollinger, Jr., of Marion; sisters: Alice Bohnstedt, of Columbia City; and Wanda Friesen, of San Luis Obispo, Calif.; 23 nieces and nephews; 34 great-nieces and nephews; and 15 great-great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brother-in-law, Edward Bohnstedt.
Visitation is 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with Pastor Larry Sheets officiating. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at Garden of Memory in Muncie with the graveside service at 1:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home, American Red Cross or to donate blood in Mary’s honor.