Dorothy K. "Dot" Thomas

Dorothy K. "Dot" (Hess) Thomas, 102, formerly of Cambra, died early Tuesday morning, February 23, 2021 at the Gardens at Orangeville, where she had been a resident for the past three years.

Born September 7, 1918 in Asbury, Fishing Creek Township, she was the youngest of six children; a daughter of the late Rush and Bertha Hess.  She married George G. Thomas in 1935, whom preceded her in death on August 29, 1994.  They lived in Forks, Orangeville and Cambra.  They had moved to Cambra in 1946 to the home that George's father, Gwilym, built during the Great Depression.  Dorothy sold the homestead in 2001 and moved to a new apartment in Bloomsburg.  She entered assisted living in 2012 and then to the Gardens at Orangeville in 2018.

In 1948 in Cambra, she and her husband operated a Restaurant named "Thomas' B-B-Que" on Rt. 239.  It closed due to Rt. 118 being opened in 1953, which then became the main route from Williamsport to Scranton.  She was a wonderful baker and pie maker, which seemed to draw traffic to the restaurant. After the restaurant was closed, she was employed by the Magee Carpet Company in Bloomsburg for 20 years, until her retirement. 

Following her retirement, she continued to bake pies and cakes for her customers for birthdays, graduations, wedding and such until she sold her home.  She baked tiered cakes for all her grandchildren's weddings.  Also, following retirement, she and her husband built a wood-working shop--George built the items and Dot painted them.

In 1953, George started Tap Dancing Studios (10 in all) and Dot made all the costumes for the stage shows called "Kiddie Kapers" at various locales.  The show aired in 1957 on WBRE-TV.  George was also a gifted musician and Dot tagged along wherever his orchestra was playing.

Mrs. Thomas was a member of the Lime Ridge United Methodist Church and Order of Eastern Star.

Surviving are her three  children:  Patricia Ann Lowe, of Palm Coast, Florida; G. James Thomas and his wife, Judy, of Lime Ridge; Margaret J. "Peggy" Riehle, of Alabama; 11 grandchildren; 36 great grandchildren; 38 great great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Along with her parents and husband, George, she was preceded in death by her siblings:  Earl, Fred, Edgar, Paul and Margaret Hess; son-in-laws:  Robert Lowe and George Riehle; grandchildren:  Tammara Hinckly in1994; Debra Thomas in 1976; Robin Thomas in 2005; her great grandchildren:  Kolby Shoemaker in 1994; Joshua Shoemaker in 2004 and Timothy Zech in 2018. 

Funeral Services will be Monday, March 1st, 2021 at 2 PM at the Lime Ridge United Methodist Church, 6405 Fourth Street, Bloomsburg (Lime Ridge) with the Rev.Vincent N. Keister, her pastor, officiating.  There will be a Visitation at the Church on Monday from 1 PM until the time of the Service at 2.  Burial will be in Elan Memorial Park, Lime Ridge.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Lime Ridge / Fowlersville Missions Fund, c/o James Thomas, 6295 Third Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815.  The McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., of Benton, is honored to serve the Thomas Family. 

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