Lola Jean Thomas

Lola Jean Dawson Thomas of Chester died November 12, 2012 at Hospice of Queen Anne’s, surrounded by her family. She was 73 years old. Born in Stevensville on March 10, 1938, Jean was one of five children. She attended Stevensville High School and then began raising a family. In June 1954, she married Frances Warner and had one son. On August 13, 1959, she married James Harold Thomas and had two sons and two daughters. In addition to raising a family, Jean worked with her husband at his businesses, W.A. Thomas & Son and Capt. Alex’s Restaurant. After the closure of the businesses, she worked as a bookkeeper for Shore Christian Fellowship, and later for Kent Island Tire and Kent Island Jewelry. Jean was a member of the Bay Country Moose Lodge and the Kent Island United Methodist Church. She enjoyed walking, crossword puzzles, reading, crafts and spending time with her family. She is predeceased by her parents, Wilbert E. Dawson and Dorothea Stevens Dawson; one son, Michael Paul Thomas; and two brothers, Elwood Dawson and Warren Dawson. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Harold; her children: Alexis Thomas (David) of Chester, Dawn Thomas (Charlie) of Greensboro, Cherry Wilson of Centreville, Ted Thomas of Chester, Donald “Skip” Warner (Karen) of Lawton, OK, James Harold “Buddy” Thomas, Jr. (Colleen) of Stevensville, Terri Schelhouse (Billy) of Denton, and Anne Gardner (David) of Stevensville; twenty grandchildren: James Bradley (Jaime), Cathy Colburn (Dave), Skye Hummel, Eric Thomas, Marion Wilson (Amy), Justin Wilson (Mandy), Samantha Thomas, Kelly Warner, Skip Warner, Stephen Warner, Megan Warner, Russell Thomas (Sara), Cody Thomas, Jimmy Schelhouse, Rachel Barry (Dave), Ryan Gardner, Amber Gardner, and James Gardner; 14 great-grandchildren: Alex Bradley, Matthew Bradley, Leah Bradley, Landon Bradley, David Colburn, William Colburn, Tayler Colburn, Christopher Hummel, Colton Wilson, Ellie Wilson, Ashley Wilson, Kylie Wilson and Gavin Thomas; two brothers, Alvin Dawson (Sheila) of Manassas, VA and Steve Dawson (Sandy) of Goodlettsville, TN; and a sister in-law, Louise Dawson of Chesapeake, VA. Services will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, November 16 at the Kent Island United Methodist Church, where friends may call on Thursday, November 15 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Easton. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Kent Island United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 308, Chester, MD 21619; or to Hospice of Queen Anne’s Inc., 255 Comet Drive, Centreville, MD 21617. Funeral arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A. in Chester, MD.

Lola Jean Thomas

March 10, 1938 - November 12, 2012