JoAnn C. Thomas, age 75, a Bloomsburg area resident since 2001, died Monday evening, March 21, 2011 in the Bloomsburg Health Care Center where she was a resident since March 11.
JoAnn was born on Thursday, August 8, 1935 in Laredo TX a daughter of the late Carlton and Elizabeth Ray Cunningham. She was a graduate of the Wichita Falls High School and received her bachelor's degree from North Texas University. She late furthered her education at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks where she earned a Masters of Education degree.
For over 20 years JoAnn was an Alaskan Bush Teacher, retiring from Elementary Education in 1981. Following retirement, she and her late husband resided in Wichita Falls, TX from 1981 to 2001. She was a member of the Wichita Falls United Methodist Church, the Lightstreet United Methodist Church and the Philanthropic Educational Organization Chapter C1 of Bloomsburg. For many years she was a volunteer at the Wichita Falls General Hospital.
On November 1, 2005, JoAnn was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Milford Ray Thomas. Survivors include a son: Mark A. Thomas and wife, Tina; two granddaughters: Kelly Thomas and Katie Thomas, all of Bloomsburg. She was preceded in death by a brother: Robert Cunningham.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 2, at 11:00 a.m. in the Lightstreet United Methodist Church, 1640 Main Street of Lightstreet, with her pastor, Rev. Jennifer Snyder-Parks, officiating. She will be interred in Elan Memorial Park at a later date. Memorial contributions are suggested to Lightstreet United Methodist Church, 1640 Main St., Bloomsburg.