Obituary for Isabelle Mitchell Thomas
The Ithaca Journal, Jun 2 2004, P. 4, Cols. 5-6.
SAMMAMISH, WA -- Longtime Ithaca resident, Isabelle Mitchell Thomas. passed away in Sammamish, WA. on May 15. 2004, at the age of 94. She graduated from Ithaca High School and was a member of the Cornell Class of 1930.
Mrs. Thomas grew up in Forest Home and was a member of the Forest Home Chapel (United Methodist) for many years. Her father, William Mitchell, was a Scottish stone mason whose artistry graces numerous Cornell University buildings. He also built the noted cluster of stone houses on Forest Home Drive, near the Cornell Plantations and Rose Gardens, where Mrs. Thomas resided for most of her adult life.
Except for one year during World War II, when she went to Washington D.C. to work in the Department of Agriculture as part of the war effort, Mrs. Thomas spent her entire career at Cornell University. She was a secretary in the NYS School of Agriculture and administrative assistant at the NYS School of Industrial & Labor relations, retiring in 1971 as secretary to the Dean. Her husband, Joseph E. Thomas, was also a longtime Cornell employee who worked in the Housing and Dining Department. In retirement. they relocated to Seminole. FL. where Mr. Thomas passed away in 1983. Mrs. Thomas moved to Sammamish, WA, in 1998 to be closer to her family.
She is survived by son, William E. Thomas and his wife. the former Lynette Bulche of Ithaca, who live in Sammamish, WA: grandchildren, Benjamin Thomas of New Britain, CT, Michael Thomas of Spokane, WA; and Lisa Croston of Bellevue, WA: great-grandson, Kian Croston: and four nieces in Pennsylvania.
At her request, no services were held. Memorial donations may be made to the Forest Home Chapel."