Rita Stroup Thoma

A life’s journey that began many years ago in St. Louis, Missouri came to a peaceful end after 93 years of life filled with wonderful experiences amongst family and friends. Surrounded by family and loving friends, Rita Stroup Thoma completed her life’s journey and was reunited in heaven with her husband of 55 years, Gene A. Thoma, on Monday, December 4, 2023.

Born June 12, 1930, to George Lawton Stroup and Marguerite Walsh Stroup, Rita grew up in a loving family with five sisters (Mary Ellen Fultz, Jane McGah, Marge Reuter, Sally Waddock and Nancy Marshall), and a cousin (Vonnie Stroup).  While working as a secretary, she met Gene A. Thoma, and a romance developed and blossomed.  They were married on June 18, 1949.  The union of Gene and Rita produced four children.  After the birth of her first child in 1950, Rita dedicated her life to her husband, her family, and making the world a better place to live.

Rita was preceded in death by her father, her mother, her husband, and her sisters. 

Rita is survived by numerous loving family members including her daughters, Terry Kevil and Tammy Boytim and husband, Jeff; sons, Tom Thoma and wife, Maria and Todd Thoma and wife, Michele; daughter-in-law, Paula Thoma; grandchildren, Chris Kevil and wife, Glenda, Jenny Kevil Donnermeyer and husband, Chris, Chase Boytim and wife, Shelby, Lindsey Starkey and husband, Kyle, Taryn Dennis and husband, Carl, Steven Thoma and wife, Trisha, Michael Thoma, Hannah Woodard, Amanda Thoma-Rowland and husband, Nathan and Thomas Thoma and wife, Lauren; great-grandchildren, Chris Boytim, Ben Kevil, Claire Kevil, Carter Starkey, Amelia Starkey, Emerson Thoma-Rowland, Beckham Thoma-Rowland, McClendon Thoma-Roland, Carpenter Thoma-Rowland, Brayden Dennis, Nora Dennis, Liam Dennis, Alison Thoma, Adrienne Thoma, Theo Thoma, and Elle Thoma. Rita is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews that she loved as though they were her own children.

There will be a visitation between the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall St., Shreveport, Louisiana.  The funeral service will take place at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 204 Patton Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Father Karl Daigle, Priest of Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church. Honoring Rita as pallbearers will be grandsons, Chris Kevil, Chase Boytim, Steven Thoma, Michael Thoma, Thomas Thoma and grandsons-in-law, Kyle Starkey, Carl Dennis, and Nathan Rowland.

The family would like to express their gratitude for the kind and compassionate care given to our mother by Dr. Steen Trawick, Dr. Roan Fleniken, Dr. Bill Haynie, and his precious nurse, Korie Faust, Dr. Phillip Garavaglia, Dr. Jerry Toups and his precious nurse, Kim Holland. Mom drew so much comfort from all of you, especially at the end of her life.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to The Providence House, 814 Cotton St., Shreveport, LA 71101, The Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, 285 Mt. Zion Road, Shreveport, LA 71106 or a charity of the donor’s choice.