THOMAS, Vena Lynn

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona Saturday, January 18, 2003 Vena Lynn Thomas went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 15, 2003. Vena was born in Chandler, Az. on May 20th, 1924 to John D. and Bertha Calhoun. A life-long resident of Arizona, she was raised in Phoenix, attended and graduated from Cartwright and Phoenix Union High School, as well as Phoenix College. On July 25th, 1944, she and Kenneth Thomas, her high-school sweetheart, were married in Norfolk, Va. After the war, they settled in Chandler and had three sons Gary, Keith, & Rick. When the children were in school themselves, she enrolled at ASU and acquired a degree in elementary education. She was a kindergarten-primary specialist, as it was called then, and taught only first grade and kindergarten throughout her career. She was employed by the Chandler Unified School District for 27 years. Vena was always interested in music and drama, and during her high school and college days participated in both. After retiring she was able to visit many of the places she had studied and read about. She and Kenneth (she never called him Ken) attended operas and plays in New York, London, Dublin, Budapest and even Taiwan. She was an excellent traveler but was always glad to return to her home in Chandler. Vena was an outstanding mother, sister, and grandmother and an exceptional, irreplaceable wife. Besides her husband and sons, she is survived by her daughters-in-law, Claudia, Shirley, and Lita. She also has two brothers John D. Calhoun Jr. and Robert Calhoun and a sister Fay Wiedmann, as well as six grandchildren. Memorial services will be held Monday, January 20th, 1:00 p.m. at Greenwood Memory Lawn, 719 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix, Az., interment to be at the same location. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation be made to the Children's Action Alliance, Chandler Education Fund, or the American Heart Association. Courtesy of Pat Wilson.