Evelyn Zumwaltt Thoman

Evelyn Zumwaltt Thoman August 21, 1921 - July 20, 2005 Was born and reared in and near Klamath Falls, OR, where she received her elementary and high school certificates. In 1942 she and her mother moved to the Los Angeles area, where she enrolled in Los Angeles City College. On November 1, 1942, she met Richard S. Thoman and four weeks later, on November 28, 1942, she married him. To this union was born a son, Gordon Richard Thoman, who ultimately rose to the highest level in the corporate realm, was awarded the French Legion of Honor, and is married to Lynn Thoman. She was a devoted grandmother to Camille, Alexis, Kylie, Max, Madeline, Amy and Eric Thoman. She was sister to Clyde Zumwalt and his wife Cleo, and aunt to Lora Zumwalt and Linda Roth. She also was related to, and loved by, numerous other relatives. Her extended family included Timothy Tillman and his sons, Nathan and Austin. The Thomans lived in several places: California, Alabama, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Illinois, West Germany (now part of Germany), Nebraska, Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., and Ontario, Canada, before moving to the Bay Area. She supported her husband, both financially and emotionally, as he earned his M.S. and Ph. D. degrees. Such support took the form of key positions in various organizations: The University of Colorado; a drug store in Gorham, ME; the U.S. Soil Conservation Service in Columbia, MO; the Northern Virginia Regional Planning Commission; a law office in Chicago, IL; the Omaha City Planning Agency in Nebraska; a group helping mentally disturbed children in Kingston, Ontario, Canada; the Woodland Estates Community Association in Hayward, CA; the Hayward Chapter of the League of Women Voters. In addition, she typed several of her husband's books and articles, sometimes with a wee of editing. In short, she gave mightily of herself, both personally and professionally. She was a truly remarkable woman, especially proficient in practical matters. She was an expert in transcribing, typing, sewing, painting, carving and other activities which could transform an ordinary object into something outstanding. Working with a builder, she designed and constructed a beautiful waterfront home. She wove many carpets, and entered one into competition in the California State Fair, where she took second prize. She made curtains for windows over 10 feet high. From tiny clay particles she produced small tables and designs, some of which were placed outside our house. She sometimes veered into the scholarly world, taking courses in Russian. She joined a number of women's organizations. Throughout these endeavors, she maintained a very calm and cheerful disposition. Three quotations exemplify her outlook and accomplishments: "Thou Bloom, whose petals soft embrace The Fundament of Life, Thou Earth's Crest, Heav'nward pinnacled, Unscarred by petty strife, Thou Mother of a Worthy Son, Thou Strength, Thou Love, Thou Wife, Be mine unto Time's End." (Richard S. Thoman, 11/28/1951) "Evelyn Thoman, Lean and Yoeman, Gives her time to the things that count. All is eager in her, Nothing meager in her, Watching the pages around her mount." (Colleague Barbara Stanislawski, 1975) "She lovingly facilitated peoples' ideas." (Granddaughter Alexis Thoman, 2005)