Alvina Thomas

Alvina "Dolly"

Thomas

Asheville - Alvina (Dolly) Thomas passed away peacefully in her apartment at College Walk on December 21, 2013 at the age of 97. She was the daughter of Alvina and Joseph Trainor. She is survived by a daughter, Lynn Simmons and son-in-law Ronald Simmons, granddaughter Jennifer Edmondston, Jennifer's husband Kevin, and great granddaughters Ashley Simmons and Jade Edmondston. She also had two adopted daughters, Tippy Carmody and Tracey Krause. She was born in New York City (July 11, 1916) and grew up in Floral Park, Long Island, NY. She attended John Lewis Childs grade school and graduated cum laude from Sewanhaka High School. She received a scholarship to Cornell University, but because of financial difficulties she attended Nassau Community College. She married John (Skip) Thomas, beloved husband of 59 years who died in 1996.

Dolly attended New Hyde Park (NY) Presbyterian Church where she was President of the Women of the church, taught Sunday school and was ordained Deacon. She was active in Girl Scouts and formed the first Wing Scout Troop in eastern United States which was written up in Library of Congress. She studied piano under a Julliard teacher and gave concerts in Town Hall. She also sang in the Downtown Professional Women's Chorus and sang in Carnegie Hall.

In 1958 Dolly and Skip came to Camp Illahee (Brevard, NC) to teach riflery for 23 summers. After they retired and built a home in Brevard, she volunteered at Transylvania Hospital, was a docent at Jim Bob Tinsley Museum and Allison Deaver House, did Meals on Wheels and volunteered at Brevard Elementary. She was a life member of The Garden Club of North Carolina as well as President of Transylvania Garden Club, who honored her with an elm tree planted between the library and Broad Street Park for her project which brought 100 elms into Transylvania County. After Retirement the couple travelled extensively all over the world including Europe, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, China, Taiwan, Mexico, Costa Rica and Columbia to name a few.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 11, 2014, at Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church, Brevard, NC, where she was an active member for more than 40 years.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to a charity of your choice or to the Dolly & Skip Memorial Fund at Camp Illahee, 500 Illahee Road, Brevard, NC 28712, which will be used to create a lasting tribute to them.