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Vera Arretta Thomas, 87, of Bellefontaine and formerly of Sun City West, Arizona, passed away at the Lima Memorial Hospital.

She was born to Charles Adam and Fredah Irene (Jacobs) Thomas, on May 21, 1925, near Cheshire, Ohio, at the home of her grandparents, Willie and Zella Boice Jacobs. She is also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Elizabeth Darnell.

Vera is survived by a daughter, Vickie (Bob) Hill of Bellefontaine; two grandchildren, Kevin (Jane) Hill of Eagle Lake, Fla., and Kimberly (Joe) Heater of Bellefontaine, Ohio; six great-grandchildren, Matthew and Kara Hill and Ashleigh, Mackenzie, Isabelle and Brandon Heater; a nephew, Tom (Peggy) Darnell of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and a great nephew, Eric (Laura) Darnell of Louisville, Ky.

She was a 1942 graduate of Cheshire High School in Gallia County, Ohio. She worked most of her life at the Holzer Medical Center as a nurse for 20 plus years and retired early 1980’s. In 1994 she sold her home near Cheshire and moved with her daughter and son-in-law to Sun City West, Ariz. There she made many friends, belonged to several clubs in the community and went on several trips with other seniors. She loved to travel and never met a stranger. After moving back to Ohio with her daughter and son-in-law, she joined the Bellefontaine /Logan County Friendly Senior Centre and took a two week bus/train trip to Chicago, Texas, California, Washington and across the northern states back to Chicago. Known for her competitive spirit, Vera enjoyed playing softball in her younger years and more recently bocce ball and mini-golf. She was a member of the Old Kyger Freewill Baptist Church in Cheshire and the Calvary Baptist Church in Bellefontaine.

Vera was very proud of her heritage, especially The Roush (Rausch) & Allied Families Association of America, Inc., and First Families of Gallia County.

Visitation will be on Friday, February 8, 2013, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine where Pastor Jeffory Willetts will officiate a 10:30 a.m. funeral service on Saturday, February 9th. Burial will be in the Gravel Hill Cemetery, Gallia County, Ohio, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that memorial contributions may be made to the Friendly Senior Center, 934 S. Main St., Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311 or to the Old Kyger Freewill Baptist Church, 540 Roush Lane, Cheshire, Ohio 45620.

Condolences may be expressed at: www.eichholtzfuneralhome.com.