Virginia Thomas

Virginia C. Thomas SUFFOLK - Virginia Pauline Cole Thomas, 93, died April 8, 2010. Born June 29, 1916 in Stafford County, Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Anne Deweese Cole and Shirley Leon Cole. Graduated from Ferrum Academy, she attended Radford College and graduated in 1937. Mrs. Thomas taught school in Blacksburg, Bland County, and Floyd County. From 1952 until 1965 she taught at Holland High School and, from 1965 until 1978, at Forrest Glen High School. She spent many years teaching both history and government and was the senior class sponsor, chaperoning the annual trip to Washington, D.C., and directing the senior class plays. A member of Holland Baptist Church for more than 50 years, she taught Sunday school and was involved in numerous church activities. More recently, she was a member of Holy Neck Christian Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Horace Randolph Thomas. Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Rebecca T. England and husband James of Lexington and Nancy T. Musselman and husband Irving of Suffolk; son, Randolph Thomas and wife Paige of Boalsburg, Pa.; sister, Dorothy Shiflett of Waynesboro; cousin, Geraldine Poage of Salem; six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many other relatives. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, April 12, at Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, with the Rev. Dr. Reginald Warren and the Rev. Dolan A. Talbert officiating. Interment will follow in Holland Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family following the service at Mrs. Thomas's residence. www.wrightfuneralhome.org.