Barbara Wilhelmina (Barb) Thomas went to her rest on May 19, 2018 at Hubbard Hospice House West in South Charleston.
Barbara was born to Archie Paul Short and Loretta (Elsener) Short in 1938.

She was a member of St. Anthony's Parish and Graduated from Charleston Catholic High School in 1956.

She married her husband of more than 50 years, Joe Naylon Thomas, in 1960. They traveled the country, from Columbus, Ohio to Spokane, Washington, and back, as Joe served his country in the United States Air Force. Upon Joe's retirement from the Air Force, Joe and Barb settled in Newark, Ohio and raised their family and there spent the balance of their life together.

As Barb raised her family, she was active in the St. Francis de Sales School Board, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Y Football Boosters, Newark City Catholic Football Boosters, Catholic Youth Track, and many other organizations and clubs.

Upon her son's graduation from high school, Barb embarked on a second career. She graduated from nursing school shortly thereafter and served the elderly and infirm at Arlington Nursing Home, Newark Healthcare Center, and the Inn and Sharon Brooke, Licking County Home Health and others as she endeavored to comfort the afflicted.

Upon the death of her husband, Joe, Barb left Newark and moved to Dunbar to be closer to her sister, Cookie and her only grandchild, Caitlin.

In addition to her husband, Joe, Barbara is preceded in death by her mother and father, Paul and Loretta, her brother, Paul Granville (P.G.) and many aunts and uncles.

She is survived by her sister, Mary (Cookie) Clendenin; son John; granddaughter Caitlin; and her great aunt Sister Mary William Elsener, OSF.

Barb touched many in the places she lived and worked and she will be sorely missed.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 2, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Charleston.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June1, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar with a prayer vigil at 7:30 p.m.

Committal of Barb's remains will be in the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veteran's Cemetery, Institute on July 30, 2018, in the morning.