Barbara Thoma

Barbara Thoma was born May 26, 1945, to John and Vera Hunter in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania.

In high school she was active in concert, marching and jazz bands, where she met her future husband, Bob. After graduating from Penn Hills High, she enrolled at Columbia Teaching Hospital in nursing. After graduating at the top of her class she worked at Columbia Hospital and on March 18, 1967, married Bob Thoma. They moved to Lima, Ohio, where Bob was finishing college and Barbara worked at the hospital in Lima. After Bob graduated in 1968, he was drafted into the Army and shipped off to Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Barbara joined Bob in Fairbanks, Alaska, in February of 1969.

When Bob's enlistment was over, they decided to remain in North Pole, Alaska. Barbara worked at St. Joseph's Hospital as a surgical and OB nurse, then later at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and Tanana Valley Clinic. Barbara raised three wonderful children: Christopher Brent, Jason Erik and Julie Rebecca. She also cherished her grandchildren, Jared Erik, Delcan John Allen and Madalyn Kay. She was also a founding member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in North Pole, Alaska. At Lord of Life, she helped welcome at least eight pastors.

Barbara was a skilled crafter, baker and cook, seamstress, enjoyed working in her flower garden, vegetable garden, and green house, being out on the water in Prince William Sound and at the cabin at Becky Lake.

She was an active member of the 17 Mile Homemakers and the International Philanthropic Educational Organization Sisterhood. She gave tons of her time, skill and expertise to others. She was always sewing, baking, or volunteering for worthy organizations. Everything from sewing crafts to sell at bazaars to making communion bread for church.

Walking into her home you would often be met with the aroma of several different kinds of cookies, dinner rolls and loaves of bread, or a hearty, home-cooked dinner - or all the above, She often remarked that, "while we have the oven on, we might as well." She took full advantage of nature's bounty, making loads of chokecherry jelly, freezing trays of blueberries, and freezing cranberries for later baking. She always seemed like she was on the move but was always ready to help her friends and neighbors. Her children were lucky to have her as a stay-at-home mom for so long - she and the children participated in 4-H, she volunteered at their schools, and provided all the neighborhood kids with cookies after school. Everyone was welcome at her table.

She loved to be on the water in Valdez. Meeting the Stephens family early on, they became quick friends and traveled to Valdez hundreds of times to enjoy Prince William Sound on the Stan Stephens boats, Growler Island Camp, and later their own personal boat TFourG. Barb and Bob even shipped all three children to Valdez each summer to work, with Christopher making a career with Stan Stephens Cruises.

She and Bob built a beautiful cabin on the remote Becky Lake and flew out in their Cessna 180 every chance they got. Even taking Storm, their 120-pound malamute, who they trained to walk carefully along the floats to get to shore.

Barbara also cherished her grandchildren dearly. She was at each one of their births, making sure things went smoothly. She attended as many birthday party celebrations, band concerts, dance recitals, wrestling matches, honor roll assemblies and ROTC performances as she could.

Barb and Bob both enjoyed a lively game of Canasta or Pinochle with great friends and passed the love of games to her children. She was often accused of playing by 'house rules,' winning many games.

Her garden and flower beds increased by size each year. The garden produced so many vegetables that friends, neighbors and family benefitted from its bounty. Many years they donated much of the bounty the Food Bank.

A viewing will be 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Blanchard Family Funeral Home, 611 Noble St., Fairbanks, AK. In lieu of flowers please donate to Lord of Life Lutheran Church, KUAC, or Fairbanks Community Food Bank in her name. Memorial service at their church will be announced at a future date.

She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Robert Glenn of North Pole; sons, Chris Thoma (Marian Ruth) of Valdez and Jason Thoma (Jen Cline) of Fairbanks; daughter, Julie and Jason Griswold, of North Pole; grandsons, Jared Thoma of Valdez and Declan Griswold of North Pole; granddaughter, Madalyn Griswold of North Pole; brother, Douglas Hunter (Suzanne) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; cousin, Joyce Thoma (David) of Apollo, Pennsylvania; and brother and sister-in-law, Ken and Dorie Thoma of San Antonio, Texas.

Online condolences may be made to the family at Blanchardfh.com.