Imogene Thomas

Memorial Service Thursday, November 7th, 2013 - 10:00 AM - St. Luke's United Methodist Church 222 N.W. 15th Street - Oklahoma City, OK - 73103 Imogene's life has been filled with good times and much laughter. She was especially proud of Keri and Kent. The grandsons would bring toys to entertain her and also to tell about their experiences. Bob's week visit had a "sweet" touch with coffee and donuts. BJ 's visits were more a "trip down memory lane" sharing and laughing. Our family has been so fortunate to have Mom / Nana who could listen, advise, love each one of us. Imogene Thomas is a true Okie, born in Scapula. While still a child her parents moved to Wyoming and later to Kansas. It was in Wichita Kansas that she met Jack Thomas while attending First Methodist Church. They have one daughter, BJ and her husband Bob. Granddaughter and son-in-law, Kerl and Kent Collins, and Great grand sons Ethan, Jackson and James Matthews and family. Imogene attended Friends University in Wichita where she majored in drama and Wichita University where she studied business management. She has a varied career in many areas as a secretary, public stenographer in Spokane Washington, a buyer for the Red Cross in Washington DC, and as a minister's secretary in the First Methodist Church in Wichita. In 1947, the Thomas couple found their lives had changed when they decided to adopted an 11 year old girl..BJ. Thus began their" Girl Scout" experiences including 14 other troop members. Imogene's drama background kept the Troop girls making and performing puppet shows, melodrama play, skits, monthly camp outs, establishing the first Girl Scout Wing Troop with the help of Beech Air Craft Co., and making sure that the girls gave back to the community through service projects. Through her patience (and she surely had to count 10 more than once) these girls all 15 went on to adult life to volunteer as Girl Scout leaders. After moving to Oklahoma City, she worked as a Kelly Girl in order to become acquainted with the City, then with Champlin Oil and Refining company and later she became Dr. McFerren Stowe’s secretary at St. Luke's Methodist Church where she stayed until he was appointed a Bishop. She and Jack were members of the Harrison Class and sponsors of the College Dept. Then she returned to Central State University for a teachers degree and taught 6 years at Putnam City High School teaching English literature, Business Communications, and Short Stories. She has always been Interested in volunteer work and has been active in Women's Societies, Sunday Schools, and various social organization. She was involved in the Canterbury Belle's Garden Club, the Oklahoma City Writer's Organizations, and the Volunteers for the Blind and Physically Handicapped where she taped textbooks for blind students and read weekly over the closed circuit Radio for the Blind. After resigning her teaching position at Putnam City, she became active in the Friendly Corner Home Extension Group where she was both Vice President and Chairman of the International Committee. A new change of living occurred when Imogene placed a request in the St Luke’s paper... She was involved with cataloging the church's library and needed assistance. Maurice Sheldon answered the ad, and pair clicked like clock work. They soon became" bosom buddies"... Hit the road to set up their easels for sketching and painting, attending Elderhostel, and playing bridge, pitch, and dominoes. The friendship developed into a sisterhood and Maurice soon became "Nana 2". The move to Epworth Villa gave Imogene the retirement solution. It wasn't long until she was saying "YES". The "Villa Voice and the Writer's Club" were right down her alley. Her interest in writing led her to be a ghost writer for 3 sewing books, free lance writer to AARP, Capper's Weekly, Mature Live, Daily Oklahoman Garden section, and Accent. Her drama training continued as She directed "Smokey Mountain, a Musical” for the Epworth Community. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Imogene Thomas please visit our Sympathy Store.