Betty Marie Thomas

Betty Marie Thomas, age 94, of Elkhart, Indiana, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2026, at Greenleaf Health Campus. She was born on December 9, 1931, in Hays Grove, Pennsylvania, to Herman and Verna (Mell) Fraker. Betty’s first marriage was to Cletus Hess Jr., with whom she had two children. In 1962, she married Charles W. Thomas, who preceded her in death on March 10, 1990.

Betty worked as a seamstress at Trosel’s, where she skillfully created children’s dresses. Even after retiring, she continued to express her passion for sewing by mending garments and making curtains for family members. She loved spending time with her family, especially over a good meal. In her younger years, she was an avid bowler. Always on the lookout for a good deal, Betty enjoyed thrift shopping and yard sales. A good day for her often included winning at the casino or playing BINGO. She kept busy outdoors bird watching and relaxing on her swing, or indoors watching cowboy movies, especially those starring John Wayne, reading magazines, and working on crossword and word search puzzles. Betty had a fun and playful side that truly shined at Christmas, often delighting others with creative gifts tucked inside a Pringles can. Beneath her fun-loving nature was also great strength. Betty was a proud cancer survivor whose resilience inspired others. Above all, Betty cherished spending time with her family, especially her daughter Nancy, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her love, warmth, and gentle humor will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

She is survived by her children: Kenneth Hess of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Nancy Kuykendall of Elkhart, Indiana; Charles “Chick” (Karen) Thomas of Goshen, New York; and Dorothy “Dot” Fraker of Newville, Pennsylvania; grandchildren: Kristy (James) Deavers, Tina Keeseman, Cory (Robyn) Hess, Ashley (David) Harp, Karla (Kevin) Doyle, Chris Hess, and Lindsay (Anthony Pistone) Thomas ; ten great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and siblings: Dale (Dorothy) Fraker of Newville, Pennsylvania, Helen Baker of Mt. Holly Springs, Pennsylvania, and Caroline Kitner of Mt. Holly Springs, Pennsylvania. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her sisters, Evelyn Heller and Alma Nickel.

Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514, is assisting the family. A graveside service will be held at Cumberland Valley Gardens in Carlisle, Pennsylvania at 1 PM on February 6th, 2026. A remembrance dinner to follow. Online condolences may be made at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Betty’s honor to the Cancer Resources for Elkhart County at www.elkhartcancer.org