Dorothy McPhillimy Thomas

Dorothy McPhillimy Thomas passed away peacefully on Friday, December 5,2025 at Lima Estates in Middletown Township at the age of 100. Dorothy is a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, teacher, healing prayer minister, friend, and a woman of deep and profound faith. Dorothy means "gift from God" and she lived a faithful life raising her 3 daughters with her husband, Warren L. Thomas (deceased).

Education was a priority for Dorothy "Dot". She was valedictorian of her high school class and attended the University of Pennsylvania on a scholarship to become a teacher. She had a skill for drafting and worked in the drafting room at Baldwin Locomotive in Eddystone during summers and vacations during her college years. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor's degree in health and physical education and enjoyed working with students as a health and phys ed teacher in the Yeadon school district until she married in 1955.

Dorothy loved children and being a mother to her 3 daughters. When her children were grown, she sought out opportunities to teach. She became a substitute teacher working with children learning English as a second language in the Rose Tree Media School District. She enjoyed working with children and helping them improve their English language skills and grow in confidence.

Dorothy was active in the life of the church at St. John's Episcopal Church in Glen Mills and at Christ Church in Media. She completed the Education for Ministry (EfM) program and discerned a call to a healing prayer ministry. She was commissioned by St. John's Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania as a hospital prayer minister. She ministered and prayed with hospital patients, friends, and with all those in need of the healing presence of God. In addition to her prayer ministry, she also served on the Vestry and as a convention delegate. She loved serving God and sharing her many talents with the church.

Dorothy had a gift for writing, and she enjoyed writing essays about travel or nature where she experienced God and reflected on her faith. When she first moved to Lima Estates after her husband Warren died, she befriended many and began to write the life stories of residents who had died. Dorothy always extended the gift of hospitality to all she met at Lima Estates and her welcoming presence will be missed.

Dorothy, with a heart for teaching and for God, supported the work at St. John's Episcopal Church, Prospect Park Baptist Church, and Christ Church Media and its preschool. She also supported many faith, health and education organizations and their missions throughout her long life. Her stewardship brought the faith and love of God to many. Dorothy is survived by her 3 daughters Linda Dvorak, June Beach, and Claire Miller, her grandchildren George Dvorak,III, Linda Marie Gordon, Marisha Schultz, Michelle Miller, and Matthew Beach, and her great grandchildren Andrea Gordon, Paige Dvorak, Lydia Dvorak, Norah Dvorak, Eliza Dvorak, Benjamin Dvorak, Ash Miller, Becca Miller, Abigail Beach and Anna Beach.

Funeral Services will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Christ Church Preschool Scholarship Fund in memory of Dorothy McPhillimy Thomas or to St. John's Episcopal Church.