Rita Beth Hagan Thomas

Rita Beth Hagan Thomas "Gran-Gran", 83, of Owensboro died Wednesday April 10, 2013 at home after a short battle with cancer. She was born November 22, 1929 in Daviess County to the late Lawrence and Lida Mae Curtsinger Hagan. She was a lifelong member of St. Stephen Cathedral where she attended daily Mass, served as Parish Pastoral Council secretary from 1985-1996, and volunteered for many other ministries throughout her lifetime. Mrs. Thomas retired from Owensboro Catholic High School in August of 2012 after 43 years of dedicated service. She was ''Mom'' to the OCHS family, and the living repository for all OCHS history; she was OCHS' biggest fan and most faithful supporter. She was a member of three Canasta Clubs, the OCHS Bunco Club and a former member of the Owensboro Ballroom Dance Club and Coterie Dance Club in Evansville. She was an avid proponent of exercise and could be found daily at the HealthPark in the Heart Moves and Zumba Gold classes. She enjoyed traveling with the Golden Partners. She was a longtime patron of the Owensboro Symphony and the RiverPark. Mrs. Thomas was a member of the St. Frances Academy Class of 1948 and arranged monthly lunch get-togethers for her classmates. She was a Gold and Emerald honoree from OCHS and a Sophia Award recipient from the Diocese of Owensboro. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ken Thomas, in 2004.
She is survived by five children; Annette(Steve) Roberts of Floyds Knobs IN, Elaine Thomas, Sharon Wathen, and Leah (Greg) McCarty all of Owensboro and Myles (Ruth Ann) Thomas of Leitchfield. Ten grandchildren; Brent (Holly) McCarty, Stephanie(Aaron) Carrico, Elizabeth Wathen, Nicole Thomas, Josh(Hannah) Thomas, Sean Roberts, Amanda Thomas, Kristen Wathen, Jena Beth McCarty and Adam Thomas. One great-granchild; Jude Thomas Carrico. A "sister-cousin" Teresa Townsley; several nieces and nephews including Suzanne(Louis) Johnson who took such good care of her Aunt Rita and a ''just-like-family'' friend Mary Hilda McFarland.
Funeral services are at 1pm Saturday April 13, 2013 at St. Stephen Cathedral with entombment in Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory from 2 to 8pm Friday and 10am to 12:30pm on Saturday. Prayers will be said at 6:00 p.m. Friday.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Owensboro Catholic High School.