Betty J. Pickett Thomas, age 84, of Claridon, died Thursday afternoon, May 6, 2010, at the Marion General Hospital following a brief illness.
On May 13, 1925, Betty was born in Marion, Ohio, the oldest of eight children of the late Glenn and Mildred (Holland) Pickett.
While helping raise her siblings, she also attended Edison High School on the west end of town and graduated from Marion Harding High School in the Class of1943.
Shortly after graduating, Betty married a soldier who had just returned from the war, Paul Edward Thomas, on September 7, 1946. Together they lovingly raised two children, Michael and Phil, and shared a deep love for each other during their 55 years of marriage. He preceded her in death on January 1, 2001.
For over twenty years, Betty worked for the post office in Marion as a rural mail carrier, until her retirement in 1987. Prior to the post office, she had worked for Huber Manufacturing and Blake’s Florist.
Having a green thumb, Betty loved tending to her flower garden alongside her husband who cared for their vegetable garden. All throughout her flower garden, she would hand bird feeders so she watch the birds and enjoy their company. Also, she was a member of the Claridon Homemakers Gardening Club.
As often as they could, Betty and Paul would head to Lake Erie to stay at their cottage. They were blessed to be surrounded by three other couples of friends who were their neighbors and they would do everything together. They enjoyed playing cards, going fishing, and sharing each other’s boats.
A woman who truly “loved her sports,” Betty did everything in her power to make it to her children’s baseball, basketball and football games at River Valley High School. They wouldn’t know she would be coming, then look up to find her smiling at them from the bleachers. She was also an avid Ohio State University Buckeye fan.
An avid reader, Betty loved a good book, especially a good suspense and thriller novel, which she would always share with her “daughter-in-law”.
Having a most kind heart, Betty had a smile that would light up the room and lift everyone’s spirits. “Always happy”, she could see the best in everyone, never having a bad thing to say.
Amidst her heartache after losing Paul, Betty found a wonderful and understanding companion in her lifelong friend Wilbur Hensel, who too was widowed. Also, she shared a special bond with her sister-in-law, Marguerite Wetzel.
Betty will be dearly missed by her two sons: Michael (Kelly Blankenship) Thomas, of Marion, and their son, Clay Thomas; and Phil (Anna) Thomas, and their children: Aaron and Samantha Thomas, and Charlene and Sam; a brother, Robert “Bob” Pickett of Sunbury; and two sisters: Martha (Carl) Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona, and Grace Snowden of San Diego, California; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Including her husband and parents, Betty was preceded in death by four brothers: Jack, Dean, James and Thomas Pickett.
Betty's family will greet friends from 4 – 7 p.m. on Monday, May 10, 2010, at the Denzer-Farison-Hottinger & Snyder Funeral Home, 360 E. Center St., Marion, where services celebrating her life will be held on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. J. Patrick Street officiating. Burial will follow in Claridon Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the River Valley Athletic Scholarship Fund and they may be sent in care of the funeral home.
For those wishing to express their condolences to Betty's family, you may do so by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
About Marion Online Obituaries
