Norma Kathryn Thomas, 93, formerly of Belleville, passed away November 5, 2025 at Elison Memory Care in Marietta due to injuries from a fall. She was born on Rose Hill, Wirt County, on October 3, 1932. She was the seventh of fourteen children born to Ithamer Harris Giffin and Laura Louella Matheny Giffin.
After graduating from Wirt County High School in 1950, she worked at Yielky’s and G.C. Murphy’s snack bar in Parkersburg and Columbus, OH. She married Russell Thomas in 1960 and stayed home to raise her family.
Norma was a Wood County 4-H leader with the Lubeck Lucky Clovers Club, receiving her 50-year volunteer pin this year. She was a volunteer at Lubeck Elementary School where she was known as “the craft lady” helping students make Christmas bead ornaments every year. She also made rest time pillows for all of daughter Julie’s pre-k students.
She is survived by her children, Louella (Edward) Powell, Robert Thomas, and Julie (Don) Barnes; her grandchildren, Katie (Harry) Foster, Jared (Jessica) Powell, Ryan (Bella) Thomas, and David (Caroline) Barnes; and her great-grandchildren, Emmett Powell, and Ayla Powell. She is also survived by sisters, Margaret Reeves and Pauline McVey, and a brother Gerry Giffin along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Norma was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, her parents, and her siblings, Ada Mae Wade, Clyde, infant Doris Eileen, Dora Belle Deem, Chester, Herman, Edith Freeman, Raymond, Harvey, and Hazel Ray.
The family would like to thank all of the nurses, aides, and the memory care activities director at Elison for their compassionate care of mom for the last year and a half. Thanks also to Amedysis Hospice for their care during the last few weeks of life. You are all greatly appreciated.
Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 10, 2025 at Lambert Tatman Funeral Home, Pike St, South Parkersburg with Minister Tom Fagan officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memory Gardens. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., Saturday, November 8, 2025 at the funeral home.
Lambert Tatman Funeral Home, South Parkersburg, is honored to serve the Thomas family.
Lambert Tatman Funeral Home
Lambert Tatman Funeral Home
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