Helen Lucille (Baker) Thomas, 99, of Ashland passed away peacefully early Thursday morning on January 30th 2025.
She was born in Ashland, Ohio to her parents Wesley Parker and Mary Edna (nee Harmon) Baker. The family did move to surrounding cities Millersburg and Wooster but they would return to Ashland for Helen to begin the 7th grade and graduate from Ashland High School in the class of 1943.
Helen worked at the snack bar at the Schine’s theatre where she met her future husband, Samuel James Thomas, who worked there as an usher. They married February 4th 1945, at the parsonage of the First Christian Church on Sandusky Street.
She was employed by the Hess and Clark company in their office staff for many years before becoming the secretary of the Ashland City Schools in 1955. She later moved to work at the junior high school in 1962 when the new high school opened. Helen later retired after 34 years with Ashland City Schools in 1989.
Helen and Sam loved spending time with their family, friends, and traveling. Helen especially loved her collection of blue birds and playing the card game ‘Crazy 8s’.
Helen is survived by her children JoAnn (Jim) Denslow, and Jim (Terri) Thomas; grandchildren, Matthew Denslow, David (Melisa) Denslow, Jennifer Thomas (Justin Gray), Jamie Thomas (Karla Bustamante); great grandchildren, Cassie Denslow, Gabby Denslow, Maddy Denslow, and Wyatt Denslow; great-great grandson; Wesley James; nephew, Steve (Zodie) Weaver, nieces; Karen (Mike) Holloway and Wanda Parnay, and several great (and great-great) nieces and nephews; special cousins, Janet, Billy and Carolyn, and “adopted” daughter, Dianne Chandler.
Along with her parents, Helen is preceded in death by her husband, Samuel James Thomas, who passed away on February 4th 2018; her granddaughter Kathleen Thomas; Sister and Brother-in-law, Louise and Bill Weaver and a niece, Sherrill Weaver.
The family would like to ask for memorial contributions to be made to Amedisys Pathways Hospice, 41 Briggs Dr. Unit 3, Ontario, Ohio, 44906 or to the Savannah United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 177, Savannah Ohio, 44874.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, February 6th 2025, at 12:00 P.M in the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home with Reverend Rich Pate presiding. Friends may call from 10:00 A.M- 12:00 P.M. Interment will follow in the Ashland County Memorial Park.
Online condolences may be shared on the funeral home’s website at denbowfh.com
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home is honored to be handling the arrangements for Mrs. Helen Thomas.
Funeral Home: Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home
Website: denbowfh.com