Published: May 20, 2008 11:07 am            

Gladys Vesey Thomas

Gladys Vesey Thomas, of New Braunfels, former longtime resident of San Marcos, passed away May 16, 2008, at the age of 87.

She was born March 6, 1921, to Frank Curtis (Doc) Vesey and Gladys Deal Vesey in Itasca, Texas.

The family, which included younger twin sisters and another daughter, made their home in El Paso. As a teenager, Gladys moved with her family to Argentina, where her father, an engineer with Anderson Clayton, was involved with the building of cotton seed oil mills.

Gladys had many stories to tell about her time in Argentina, including tales of being a student at a British boarding school there. She became a fluent Spanish speaker, a skill she retained to the end of her life. Back in El Paso during World War II, Gladys met and married Romulus Ernest (Rom) Thomas. They first lived in Houston, then lived for a time in Torreon, Mexico. They returned to El Paso in the late 1940s and made their home there until 1960, when they bought land in the Hill Country of Texas and moved with their three children. They loved Central Texas, living in Wimberley, Austin and finally, for many years, in San Marcos. Gladys taught the Business Women's Sunday School class at First Baptist Church of Austin and was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of San Marcos, where she attended and taught the Fidelis Sunday School class. Gladys adored her children and felt blessed with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and, recently, one great-great grandchild. Her loss is felt by many.

Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Romulus Thomas, and beloved daughter Virginia Tiner.

She is survived by her daughter, Karen Rayburn and husband David of New Braunfels; son Ted Thomas and wife Debbie (Obenhaus) of Kingwood, Texas; son-in-law Bill Tiner of Stratford, Oklahoma; sisters Martha Christiansen and husband Chris of San Antonio, Texas; Mary Wamble of Mesa, Arizona; and Patricia Vesey-Crane of Dallas, Texas.

Gladys is also survived by her grandchildren, Leland Witherspoon, Kathy Mahoney, Amanda Rayburn, Jeannette Thomas, Jon David Rayburn and Curtis Thomas; great grandchildren Kourtnie Wells, Coast Guard Seaman Russell Doherty, Ryland Mahoney and Sophie Whitehead-Thomas; and great-great grandchild Mason Wells.

Visitation was held Monday at Pennington Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held today at 4 p.m. at Pennington Memorial Chapel with Rev. Ron Hicks officiating. Interment services will follow at the Tabernacle in the San Marcos City Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of Pennington Funeral Home, 323 N. Comanche St., San Marcos, 353-4311.

        

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