Louvena Charlene Oden Thomas, age 92, ofRonda, passed away Saturday morning, January 3, 2009 at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital in Elkin after a short illness. Mrs. Thomas was bom on October 7, 1916 in Franklin County, Alabama, to Wardie Hardin Oden and Sally Gibson Oden. She was preceded in death by her husband, Grady Preston Thomas; and infant son, Edwin Donohue Thomas; one sister. Myrtle Oden Porter; and three brothers, John Oden, Jack Oden, and Grady Oden. She is survived by a sister, Willie Whitman of Haleyville, Alabama; two daughters, Marquita Bob Appleby of Capitan, New Mexico, and Pam Lowell Clyburn of Nashville, Tennessee; one son, Stephen Linda Thomas of Ronda; eight grandchildren, Robin Craig Yager, Gina Jon Blaylock, Greg Kristy Clyburn, Gwyn Doug Hines, Brian Thais Clyburn, Travis Candy Thomas, Ryan Reu Thomas, and Meghan Thomas; and fourteen great-grand children, Ben Frey, Autumn Blaylock, Joshua Blaylock, Debra Joe Hall, Carisa Clyburn, Chad Clyburn, Mikayla Cagle, Rylee Clyburn, Preston Clyburn, Morgan Clyburn, Rett Thomas, Ty Thomas, Abby Thomas, and Matthew Thomas; two special care-givers. Pat Russell and Vergie Richardson; and her beloved cat. Tiger. Mrs. Thomas moved with her family to the Elkin area from Knoxville, Tennessee in 1949. Here, for more than thirty years, she was employed by "Roses" in downtown Elkin, where she became a familiar face to many in the community. She was a loyal and beloved member of Maple Springs United Methodist Church and was active in Sunday School and the United Methodist Women until her health declined. She and her husband Grady, served as delegates to the Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church several times. She will be fondly remembered by family and friends for her kind, gentle, and self-less nature, her Christ-like humility, and her talent as an extraordinary cook, for which she was known throughout the community. She enjoyed doing things for her family, especially cooking for large family get-togethers, and, according to her grandchildren, absolutely no one could cook their favorite things like "Memaw." She was a true servant of God, a treasure to her family, and an inspiration to all who knew and loved her. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 11 a.m. at MapleSprings United Methodist Church, Ronda, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening, January 6, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin. Memorials may be made to Maple Springs United Methodist Church Building or Cemetery Fund, or to "Red Bird Mission," in care of the United Methodist Women at Maple Springs UMC, P.O. Box 187, Ronda, N.C. 28670. Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin is serving the Thomas family.
