Dolores Thomas

Dolores Adair Goodhand Thomas, affectionately known as "Dee", died peacefully
surrounded by family in Ludington, Michigan, on January 6, 2025, at the age of 92.

Dee is survived by her daughters Debra Thomas and Cynthia Lambert, her son-in-law
David, her brothers-in-law Ron Thomas and Wayne Thomas, her grandchildren Ben
Hays (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Seth Lambert (Buffalo, Wyoming), Sarah Price
(Houston, Texas), Anna Ramsey (Sale Creek, Tennessee), Beth Ramsey (Honey Brook,
Pennsylvania), and Faith Chapin (Wayland, Michigan), and her great-grandchildren
Claira (Ludington, Michigan), Alex, Lilly, and Lukas (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania),
Makenna, Brodyn, and Wacey (Buffalo, Wyoming), Devyn (Colorado Springs,
Colorado), and Riley and Kale (Houston, Texas). Dee is preceded in death by her
husband Millard, of Baltimore, Maryland.

Dee was born on January 15, 1932, in Baltimore, Maryland, to William and Frances
Goodhand. She was a Girl Scout throughout her high school years and was selected by
Girl Scouts of America to attend an international camp event as the representative of
the Girl Scouts of Maryland—an experience that had a profoundly positive effect on her
life. She graduated from Eastern High School and then attended Towson State
Teachers College for two years. She married Millard Warring Thomas, Jr., in 1954 and
gave birth to their two daughters, Debra in1956 and Cynthia in 1958. In 1967 the family
moved from Curtis Bay to Brooklyn Park, Maryland.

Dee loved being a wife and mother. She also enjoyed her various jobs including her
service to C&P Telephone Company before she had children, and her role as a teaching assistant at a school for special education when in her forties, but she often declared that her favorite job outside the home was serving as a long-time employee of the
Gospel Bookstore in Glen Burnie, Maryland, owned by her daughter Cynthia. She was
an active member in the Lutheran Church throughout her adult life, most recently at
Rejoice Fellowship until, after the death of her husband Millard in 2021,she and her
daughter Debra moved to Ludington, Michigan, to be close to her daughter Cynthia.
She was a gifted teacher and leader and often taught Sunday school and adult Bible
studies in the churches she attended. Her faith remained central to her life until the end,
and even when movement became challenging for her, she always preferred to attend
church on Sunday mornings—followed by lunch out with her two daughters and son-in-
law Dave.

Visitation will be at Kirkley-Ruddick Funeral Home at 421 Crain Hwy SE, Glen Burnie,
Maryland, 21061 on Tuesday, January 14 at 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and again on the
morning of the 15 th at 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The funeral will also be at Kirkley-Ruddick
and is scheduled for Wednesday January 15 at 11:00 AM. The Reverend Jesse
Crutchley will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Dee’s life.
Condolences can be sent to kirkleyruddickfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to thank the faithful and loving staff and congregation of Trinity
Evangelical Free Church in Ludington, Michigan, the compassionate staff at Corewell
Health Ludington Hospital, and Dee’s beloved long-time friends who continued to reach
out and pray for her and with her in her final years. The family is also grateful to Sam
Bravo, Justice Battice, Raylin Cordova, and Cathy Webster who helped tenderly care
for Dee in the final year of her life.