September 4, 1929 – April 25, 2022
Virginia Ruth Thomas (nee Pearce) passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on Monday, April 25, 2022 at Meadowbrook Manor, Naperville surrounded by her family.
She was born September 4, 1929 in Burlington, Iowa and spent most of her life in Bensenville beginning in 1941. She also resided in Chicago, Elmhurst and Bloomingdale.
She graduated from Bensenville Community High School in 1947 and attended Rockford College for one year. She returned to Bensenville where she met and married the love of her life, Richard “Ritchie” Thomas. She became a homemaker raising three children while pursuing her education at Elmhurst College and Northeastern Illinois University, completing her degree in education in 1965. This was shortly after the untimely death of Ritchie, who had just been re-elected to a second term as Village President of Bensenville.
She was employed by Bensenville Elementary School District 2 as an elementary school teacher and after earning a Master’s degree in Special Education in 1972 she became a Special Education Teacher and then Coordinator of Special Education.
She remained a widow until her death, loving her family, relatives, friends, neighbors and colleagues, and was beloved by them.
She was an active member of Peace U.C.C. (now Faith Community U.C.C) since 1941, served on the church council and played a pivotal role in the merger of Peace, St. John’s, and Immanuel churches into Faith Community Church.
She greatly enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved playing cards and board games, travelling and reading.
Throughout her life her many dogs were a special joy.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Richard in 1965; and by her parents Theodore and Ruth, her brother David, and her granddaughters Clarissa Thomas and Rose Morris.
She is survived by brother Mylo and sister Doreen Rafacz; children Richard S. (Mary Ellen) Thomas, Cathleen (the late Michael) Key, and Robin Thomas; 5 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 30 beginning at 11 AM, followed by services at 12 PM at Faith Community, U.C.C., 192 S. Center St., Bensenville, IL 60106. Interment will be private. Funeral Luncheon will immediately follow in Dettmann Hall.
Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Community U.C.C. at address above.
