Diane Thomas

AIKEN, SC - Diane (pronounced Dee-ann) or Dee Thomas peacefully went to be with the Lord on the night of Thursday, July 10, 2025. She joined her husband, James H. Thomas, M.D., who passed away in 2020. Dee was 93 years old and had been living in Aiken, South Carolina.

Dee was born in Foxdale, Pennsylvania to Earl and Isabell Williams and was educated in a one-room schoolhouse where she excelled and was able to move “rows” early. She went to Greensburg Salem High School, graduating with honors in 1948 at the age of 16. Working in the high school office after graduation, she met Jim, who had come to the school to drop off an item for his sister Kate. Dee and Jim raised five children, and, after many years of marriage and family care, Dee pursued and earned her bachelor’s degree: the first person to earn a four-year degree at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. Dee was a long-time member of First Reformed United Church of Christ. She had a beautiful soprano voice and sang in the church choir and many other singing groups around Greensburg. She served in the Greensburg College Club, the Westmoreland County Medical Auxiliary, and the Westmoreland County Museum of Art, where she volunteered as a docent. Dee was an avid book reader, crossword puzzler, tennis player, bridge player, and bingo player. She enjoyed wearing an outfit with matching earrings for every holiday.

She is survived by her children - Deborah (Karl) Dunkelberger, James (Melissa)Thomas Jr, John (Nancy) Thomas, Janice Ewing, and Jeffrey (Kay) Thomas; grandchildren - Christopher Taylor, Adam (Amy) Taylor, James (Samantha) Thomas III, David Thomas, Barbara (Mary Alice Ryan) Thomas, Carolyn (Johnny) Griffin, William(Brianne) Thomas, Robert Ewing, Hannah Ewing, and Anna Thomas; and great-grandchildren – Phillip Taylor, Patrick Taylor, Victoria Taylor, Violet Taylor, Gracie Thomas, Charlotte Thomas, Perry Griffin, Tommy Griffin, William Griffin, and Elizabeth Thomas. Also, Dee is survived by her brother Robert Williams and a number of cousins and nephews. 

Dee will always be remembered as a quiet, loving, supportive person who had a huge heart, spoke little, and had a determined spirit. The redhead from Foxdale was deeply loved, tremendously special, and will always be in our hearts.

SHELLHOUSE-RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, INC., 715 E. PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC 29803