Ila Thomas

THOMAS, ANTHONY, SISLER

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/15/2021 at 07:41:50

April 13, 1967 - The Tipton Conservative

Funeral services for Mrs. Merle (Ila) Thomas, a native of Stanwood, were held March 14 at Anaheim, Calif. Mrs. Thomas died March 10 in Hoag Memorial hospital, Newport Beach, Calif.

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. H. (Nelle Bolling) Anthony, long-time residents of Stanwood, she was born in Stanwood and gradated from Stanwood high school in 1924. She graduated from Iowa State College in 1928, majoring in art and home economics.

She taught at North Dakota State college, Fargo, N.D. and at 6 high schools, Marion, Dennison and Fort Dodge and at Excelsior, Bellflower and Mayfair in California.

After moving to California in 1943 she worked for 5 years in the engineering department of the Douglas Aircraft company, Long Beach, then resumed teaching. At the time of her death, Mrs. Thomas was counselor at Mayfair high school and, on the night of her death was to have been honored by the Bellflower Education association for 25 years of service as a teacher-counselor. The flags of the Bellflower high school district were lowered to half staff following her death.

She was a member and past president of the Long Beach Art association and a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority.

She is survived by her husband, 1319 Santenella Terrace, Corona Del Mar, Calif.; her mother, 724 E. 9th Street, Long Beach, Calif., who is nearly 92; a sister, Mrs. Florence Sisler and niece, Andrea, 3728 Marwick Ave., Long Beach, California; a brother E. LaVern, 14092 S. Edwards Street, Westminister, Calif. and 2 nephews, Philip and Roger Anthony, Westminister and LaJolla, Calif.

She was preceded in death by her father April 12, 1939.