Alva Jo Thomas' Obituary
Alva Jo (Shaw) Thomas departed this world for her heavenly home, July 21, 2017. She was born May 22, 1922, in Paris Texas, to Nick and Allie (Stell) Shaw. She graduated from Paris High School and began working at Southwestern Bell Telephone. She married James Arnold Thomas November 1942 and followed him in his Army career to El Paso and San Antonio, Texas, Munich, Germany, Monterey, California and Lawton, Oklahoma. Following his retirement, they divorced and Mother moved to Dallas, Texas. In 1987, she retired from Bank of America in Dallas. She was a gracious volunteer at Garland and White Rock Senior Centers and Doctor’s Hospital and was a member of White Rock Methodist Church. She always had a smile on her face and enjoyed traveling, bowling, musicals and dancing with friends while performing at nursing homes and malls. She moved to Quitman, Texas to be near two of her daughters in 2011. Her children were her pride and joy; and she was a dedicated, loving and wonderful Mother and friend. She lived by God’s loving guidance. She is survived by three daughters and two sons in law; Pat Gilley of Urbandale, Iowa, Arlene and Taylor Dirck and Prissy and Jerry Cooper of Quitman, Texas. She has five living grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, and one great great grandson. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Frances Aline Kennedy, brother, Tommy Shaw, two granddaughters, Debbie and Christi Dirck and son in law, Bob Gilley. Her celebration of life ceremony will be this Friday, July 28, 2017, at 2:30 PM, Restland Funeral Home Memorial Chapel, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX. Her interment will follow her service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Reflections Hospice of Quitman, Texas. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243.
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