Mary L. Thomas passed away on Friday, May 10, 2019, at 1:55 a.m. in Fort Wayne’s Lutheran Hospital. Age 68 at the time of her passing, she was a longtime Warsaw resident who will be missed by many.
Mary was born on Dec. 5, 1950, in Huntington. One of two children, Mary was the daughter of LeRoy Ward and Mary Wall Ward. She was a 1969 graduate of Manchester High School and later attended Indiana Wesleyan University as an adult, earning a bachelor’s degree and graduating at the same time as her daughter.
Mary was well-known in the Warsaw community for her hospitable nature. She engaged those skills over several different careers, having worked at Titus Funeral Home for more than 20 years, Miller’s Health Systems for 13 years and with Dr. Joe Thallemer for seven years. Even in retirement, Mary continued to work, indulging her love for flowers as a floral associate at Maple Avenue Flowers.
She was a member of Delta Theta Tau, the Master Gardeners Association of Kosciusko County and president of Pike Lake Association. She was also very active as a member of Warsaw Community Church and the church’s cancer support group.
Mary was kind and giving. She was a proud mother and grandmother and was always very involved with her children and grandchildren’s events, even serving at one time as a leader in Brownies and Boy Scouts.
On Dec. 24, 2003, Mary was united in marriage to Clifford “Tom” Thomas. Clifford survives in Warsaw, as do daughter Amber (Kevin) Gelbaugh of Winona Lake; son Craig (Kristin) Thomas of Warsaw; sister Susan (Glen) Ashby of Warsaw; daughter-in-law Jody Titus of Warsaw; and mother-in-law Alice Ladd. Also surviving are eight grandchildren: Shashawna Titus of Huntington, Garrett Titus of Larwill, Emma Gelbaugh of Winona Lake, Braxton Keller of Warsaw, Mallory Bowers of Warsaw, Ellie Thomas of Warsaw, Cole Thomas of Warsaw and Allie Titus of Warsaw; and one great-granddaughter, Zoie Titus.
She was preceded in passing by her parents, LeRoy and Mary Ward; and by her son, Mitch, who passed away unexpectedly on May 5, 2019.
Friends and family will gather at Warsaw Community Church, 1855 South County Farm Road, Warsaw, for a time of visitation on Thursday, May 16, from 2 to 6 p.m. Beginning at 6 o’clock, Pastor Jeff Pfeifer will officiate a celebration of Mary’s life.
A private committal will be held in Oakwood Cemetery later in the week.
Titus Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements.
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Memorials to the Mitch Titus and Mary Thomas Memorial Fund c/o Amber Gelbaugh.
