Obituary of Donna B. Thomas

Donna B. Thomas, 71, passed away Wednesday, November 26, 2003. She was born in Laurium, Michigan. Her parents are Fred and Helen Bennetts. They came to Modesto in 1936. She was educated in Modesto City Schools. She married Darrell Thomas on June 25, 1950. Mrs. Thomas received her A.A. Degree from Modesto Junior College and B.A. Degree from Stanislaus State University, Turlock. She received her teaching credential from Hayward State University. She also furthered her education at College of the Pacific and classes at U.C. Berkeley, leading to her degree. She became a Realtor in 1984, specializing in residential sales and a graduate of Realtors Institute. She worked with Grupe Realtors and Aladdin Real Estate. Her accomplishments included Realtor Associate of the Year and Most Valuable Agent Award in the Grupe office. She was very active in the Lodi Association of Realtor's Activities. Prior to her real estate career, Donna taught school. She worked in the Personnel Office in San Leandro for 11 years, in charge of substitute personnel. While her husband pastored a church in Earliamart, Tulare County, Donna wrote for five newspapers, including a regional edition of the Fresno Bee, taught piano students, and was accompanist for Earliamart and Delano School choirs and the local Methodist Church. She continued this in churches that her husband pastored and schools their children attended. She also taught piano and organ privately for many years. She was a professional organist, pianist and accompanist, working for over 56 years in this field until very recently. She had great love and devotion to her husband, children and grandchildren. Survivors include husband, Reverand Darrel Thomas of Stockton; children, Keith Thomas of Lemoore, CA, Jill Wright of Williams, CA, and Joan Grier of San Leandro; mother, Helen Bennetts of Stockton; brother, Rick Bennetts of Milville, CA; 6 grandchildren, Spencer Thomas, Frank Thomas, Ross Thomas, Emily Vigor, Jared Wright and Taylor Wright. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Judith Thomas Vigor in 1986 and her sister, Joan Rasmussen in 1965. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, December 6th, 10:30 am at First United Methodist Church, 200 W. Oak Street, Lodi. Clergy will be Pastor Alan Kimber of First United Methodist Church. Committal will be at Lakewood Memorial Park, 900 Sante Fe Ave., Hughson on Friday, December 5th at 2:00 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to: c/o Guaranty Bank, Donna Thomas Memorial Fund, 2427 W. Hammer Lane, Stockton, CA 95209; specify charity, Williams High Boosters, Kings Christian Music Dept., or UOP Music Conservatory.