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Deeply Rooted

Thomas, Dorothy

Source 235 – Card – Dorothy Roblee

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Title: Funeral card for Dorothy Roblee
Date: 16 February 2011
Locality: Lansing, MI
Curator: Christine Fisher
Detail: 

Dorothy Roblee

Born: 10 June 1922, Alta Loma, TX
Died: 12 Feb 2011, Lansing, MI
Funeral Mass: Catholic Community of St. Jude, DeWitt, MI, February 16, 2011, 12:00pm
Officiating: Rev. Bernard Reilly, St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing, MI
Interment: St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, East Jordan
Casket Bearers: Rob Ash, Bob Brubaker, Bob St. Arno, Jaxso Terrell, Arkin Fout, Frank Russell

She had a heart that cared completely and a smile that brought us pleasure.
She shared her love bringing joy beyond measure,
And will be forever remembered as one of life’s great treasures.

Source 115 – Interview with Dorothy Thomas

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Interviewed by: Christine Fisher
Person Interviewed: Dorothy (Thomas) St. Arno-Prevost-Robly
Date: March 2009

Alto A. Brown (Charles R. Thomas’ first wife) killed in buggy/train accident.

Viola (Thomas)
Eva Gillons (Charles R. Thomas’ sister) has a daughter named Margaret that was about the same age as Viola, so Eva took Viola to live with them when Alto A. (Brown) Thomas died in the accident. Viola was about age 14 or 16, she rebelled when the family moved to Texas.
Married WWI veteran who was shell-shocked.

George Thomas
Fought in Civil War
Went to East Coast then to study law
Returned to Grand Rapids and became a “judge”

Charles R. Thomas
Had “itchy feet”
Joined the circus when he was 14 years
Became a government scout; knew many indian chiefs
Camped with Buffalo Bill in Montana and Idaho
Loved to have a good time – used to “clog”
Had three sisters: Nellie (Thomas) Taylor, Eva (Thomas) Gillons, Jane (Thomas)
Brothers: Scott (cancer)

Herbert Thomas (son of Charles and Iva)
Born in 1926 – about 4 years younger than Dorothy
Iva took care of him until near her death, at which time he was sent to a home. Iva died about two weeks after she put him in a home [1945 – he would have been almost 20 years old]. President Roosevelt died the day of her funeral.
Dorothy sent Christmas gift for years, then one year the gift was returned with no explanation.

Dorothy (Thomas) – 352.854.2704
Born: 10 June 1922 in Texas
Graduated from High School in East Jordan
Went to Western in Kalamazoo on a scholarship for one year to be a Home Ec teacher.
Stayed off-campus and worked 1 hour a day and on weekends for $.25/hour. Gave $1.50 a week to kitty for food.
Then she waitressed.
Started working at Butterworth and received a scholarship during the war – went to University of Detroit for 6 weeks for nursing school.

Margaret Thomas
Considered mentally retarded.
Lived at home for a long time.
Eventually put in care of state.
Lived in a home in Lapeer for years until it was closed.
Moved then to home in Bad Axe where she died in 1986.

Iva May (Cooper) Thomas
diabetic

Texas
Lived there for about 10 years