Ann Louise Waltz1,2

F, (11 February 1940 - 23 September 2022)
     Ann Louise Waltz was born on 11 February 1940 at Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.1 She was the daughter of Howell LaRue Waltz and Evelyn Regina Paulhamus.1,2 Ann Louise Waltz married, at age 25, Gary K. Thomas, age 31, son of Ross Benjamin Thomas and Charlotte Miller, on Saturday, 25 September 1965 at State Road Evangelical United Brethren Church, Lycoming Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, by the Reverend Herbert Samuel Entz.2,1 Ann Louise Waltz died on 23 September 2022 at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Mahoning Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania, at age 82 years, 7 months and 12 days.1 She was buried on 28 September 2022 in the Wildwood Cemetery, located in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. The funeral service was officiated by Reverend Elizabeth G. Jackson.1
     She was widowed at age 47 by the death of Gary on 6 April 1987.3,1 Her obituary was published on 26 September 2022 in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, printed in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Her obituary stated:

     Ann (Waltz) Thomas, cherished mother, caring sister, and beloved aunt, departed this world on Sept. 23, 2022, at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, with her son Greg by her side, and was met by her loving husband, Gary, on the cusp of their wedding anniversary.

Ann was born on Feb. 11, 1940, in Williamsport, the daughter of the late Howell and Evelyn (Paulhamus) Waltz, where she was raised on the family farm, and then resided just above her homestead in a house she and Gary built together, and where they enjoyed and created many happy memories together, and for many other people.

She attended the one-room schools of Steam Mill and Stoney Gap until ninth grade, when she went to Williamsport, and graduated in the class of 1958 from the “old” high school.

Immediately after high school, she worked briefly at the Grit, and then she went to the former Bank of Newberry, where she worked for many years before Greg came along and she became a full-time mother until 1990, when she went back to the workforce and worked for Jersey Shore State Bank where she worked until her retirement in 2005.

She was an active member of the State Road United Methodist Church, where she was the organist for over 60 years, taught Sunday School, helped with VBS, cooked meals, played piano at the various nursing homes, was the altar guild, etc. If the church doors were open, she was there doing something or at least helping out in the background.

She was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels for many years, and enjoyed the friendships she made not just with the clients, but also with the other volunteers as well.

She was also a life-member of the Blooming Grove Historical Society, and was proud of the fact that her family was one of the original settlers in Anthony Township, and according to lore, the location of her house was one of the first locations in the township that was cleared.

She met the one and only love of her life, Gary Thomas, on a blind date at a bowling alley, and they were wed at the State Road church on September 25, 1965, and together, they celebrated 21 years before his passing on April 6, 1987.

She is survived by her son, Greg, of Jersey Shore; her brother, Marvin (Kathryn) Waltz, Jersey Shore; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28 at State Road United Methodist Church, 6738 Daughertys Run Road, Linden, with her Pastor Elizabeth Jackson officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her husband in Wildwood Cemetery immediately after the service.

A viewing will be held Tuesday, Sept. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Knight-Confer Funeral Home 1914 Memorial Ave., Williamsport.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ann’s name to Blooming Grove Historical Society, 397 Dunkard Church Rd, Cogan Station, PA 17728.

www.KnightConferFuneralHome.com.1

Child of Ann Louise Waltz and Gary K. Thomas

Last Edited=6 Oct 2022

Citations

  1. [S2822] "Ann (Waltz) Thomas obituary," Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 26 September 2022, online archives (https://www.sungazette.com/obituaries/2022/09/… : accessed 6 October 2022). Kevin Leonard Sholder, Dayton, Ohio, USA.
  2. [S2823] Ann Louise Waltz marries Gary K. Thomas, undated clipping from an unidentified newspaper presumably from a local paper in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, October 1965. The original article was from a scrapbook of personal memorabilia compiled by Zella [Lovell] Stabler (1916- ). Viewed at her home, RD #3, Box 156 (now Jobs Run Road), Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania in October of 1992, by Kevin Sholder. Zella Elvira Lovell, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA.
  3. [S1] RD #3, Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, 17740 Zella E. Stabler and (570) 323-1954, Scrapbook of: newspaper clippings containing births, marriages and obituaries; Memorial Service Cards; and personal note (n.p.: n.pub., unknown publish date), Obituary.