Christine L. Thomas
Christine L. Thomas
Heaven needs a feisty new angel, and
Christine Thomas has stepped up to take the job. She was born in Lakeview,
Ore., on Feb. 7, 1935, to Harold M. and Hazel G. Langslet, and passed from this
life on Oct. 24 after a long illness.
Christine
grew up in southern Oregon, a bright student who was a Daly Scholarship recipient.
She used it to attend Oregon Technical Institute (now Oregon Institute of
Technology) in Klamath Falls, majoring in medical technology. She also was named
Oregon’s top Civil Air Patrol cadet. At college, she fell in love with David L.
Thomas, the football team captain who’d been recruited to play for OTI from
Ohio. They married the day after Christine graduated, in 1955.
Dave’s
career as a government contractor kept the young couple on the move. They lived
in a half-dozen states and Germany, and had three children: Christy, Cynthia
and David H. Thomas. Christine made the moves seem effortless, setting up
households, enrolling the kids in schools, befriending neighbors and winning
bowling trophies everywhere they went. The family traveled extensively, especially
during the years in Europe – but always made time to get back to Lakeview.
The
Thomases finally settled in Boise, Idaho, in the mid-1970s. Dave became an
Allstate Insurance agent and was the boxing manager/trainer of World
Cruiserweight Champion Kenny Keene. Christine worked as a medical technologist
at St. Alphonsus, then as a beloved attendance secretary at Borah High School
(who gave her kids a couple of annual “mental health days” because they could
not ditch classes with Mom in the attendance office).
Christine
remembered everyone’s anniversaries and birthdates, kept an immaculate home and
was the quick-witted life of any gathering. She sang like an angel in many
church choirs and was a talented artist.
She is survived by her
husband of 59 years, Dave, her three children: Christy, Cynthia and David
(Sharon) Thomas, grandson Adam Schafer, and sister Bonnie Barr of Prescott
Valley, Ariz. She was preceded in death by sister Lorna Boe and both of her
parents.
The
Thomas family sends special thanks to Kalolaine Vasi, Christine’s caring helper
and friend and her daughter Valentine; and to the kind and helpful staff at
Paramount Parks, an assisted living facility in Eagle, Idaho.
A
memorial service to celebrate Christine’s life will be held on Wed., Oct. 29,
at 10:30 a.m., at Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel, 5400 W. Fairview Ave., Boise.
Whether
or not you knew Christine or the Thomas family, we would recommend sending what
you can to Alzheimer’s Idaho (
http://alzid.org/
) or your local Alzheimer’s
Association. We pray that your donation will make a difference in other
families’ futures.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Christine L. Thomas, please visit our flower store.
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