Marie Elizabeth "Betty" Thomas

Marie Elizabeth Thomas (Betty) (4-29-1937 to 12-2-2025)

A Long and Winding Road

The world welcomed Betty on April 29, 1937, in Moorestown New Jersey, the first child of Paul and Marie McMullen. She grew up loving all of the joys of childhood, and especially her three younger sisters Barbara, Margaret, and Regina (Jean), and much later her brother Paul. She attended Our Lady of Good Counsel in Moorestown and St. Casimers Catholic School in Riverside, under the tutelage of the beloved Father Fabian. She went on to Palmyra High school, where she would meet the love of her life, Joseph Thomas.

Betty married Joe (Tom to Betty) on July 4, 1952, a date which would catapult her and Joe on an exciting life journey. They welcomed their first son, Joseph Paul, in Riverside, NJ, before moving to Delanco. The young couple followed a new opportunity to the St. Louis, MO area, as Joe joined McDonnel Aircraft. While in Missouri, they welcomed William Michael on December 25, 1956 and Michael Joseph on December 7, 1958. Soon thereafter, Joe joined RCA and moved to Fairbanks, Alaska a year ahead of his family. Betty managed the Missouri home-front, quickly taking on the many roles she would perfect through years: Home Manager, Tutor, Baseball Coach, Transportation Manager, Maintenance Manager, Travel Coordinator, Finance Manager, Social Manager etc. Having mastered these skills, she put them to good use in Fairbanks where she was a Cub Scout leader, bowling team member, and active school supporter. The family then moved to Clear, Alaska (94 miles from Fairbanks), with a 2-room school house, all-day darkness, all-day light, supplies by train, bears, moose, and lynx, and 50-below-zero temperatures.

The family made the move back to “civilization,” Park Ridge, NJ, in spring of 1963, where they welcomed their final son, Kevin William, on August 8, 1963. A year later, they headed to Boxford, MA, where Betty was a regular at little league baseball games, youth hockey games, and high school football games. Betty also enjoyed summer trips to Salisbury and Cranes Beach. It was here that she found her life-long love affair with golf, where she organized group lessons at the Middleton Golf Club.

As life would have it, the family accepted another wonderful opportunity in Glenview Illinois, where Joe joined Cummins Allison Corp. Betty acclimated her family to Chicago life, continued her participation in bowling and golf, and added quite a bit of travel to her life, making numerous trips throughout the US and Europe for business, tourism, and golf. She also embarked on a successful career as a nursing assistant at Brandel Care Center in Northbrook Illinois where she cared for Assisted Living residents.

Following this success, Betty was again tasked with setting up home life in a number of new locales, as Joe accepted new opportunities in Glen Cove, NY, Hilton Head, SC, and Marlboro, CT. During this chapter of their lives, in 1982, Betty became “Mimi” and began to develop wonderful relationships with her grandchildren, Meghann Cathleen, Liam Kyle, and Michael Shane.

The big move, which eventually defined the family and Betty/Mom/Mimi as the Matriarch, was to Indianapolis, IN, as Joe took the reins and eventual ownership of Allison Payment Systems. Betty became the omnipresent “First Lady” of Allison. She flourished in Indy, finding a thriving community for herself in the Country Club of Indianapolis, playing golf 4-5 times per week and integrating herself into the 9- and 18-hole women’s golf programs. While in Indy, she also became a beloved grandmother to Erin Elizabeth and Kathlyn Elaine.

Betty and Joe had a vision of retiring to a coastal community with a great golf course, and they settled on St. James Plantation in Southport, NC. Here they built their dream retirement home and hosted many visitors, golf trips, and beach visits for family and friends. She delighted in playing hostess there to her great-grandchildren, Evelyn Kae, Emma Elizabeth, and Byron Thomas. Betty loved her home and time with the “Dead Enders”—so named because of their neighborhood location at the end of their street. In her final years, she enjoyed being able to spend time with her cherished sister, Barb, who had moved there to live with her daughter, Karen.

Betty left us peacefully in her sleep on December 2, 2025 to join Joe in heaven (with all certainty). She lived a most wonderful life, was loved by so many, and will be so much missed.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Jean, and her husband of 67 years, Joseph H. Thomas. She is lovingly remembered by her sons, Joseph P. (Cindy), William M. (Shannon), Michael J., Kevin W. (Susan); her grandchildren Meghann C. T. Supino (Christopher), Liam K. (Tenille), Michael S., Erin E., Kathlyn E.; her great-grandchildren Evelyn K., Emma E., Byron T., and Harrison Joseph; and her siblings, Barbara, Margaret, and Paul.

A short visitation followed by a mass will be held on December 19, 2025. 1:00 p.m. (visitation 1:00-2:00PM, mass at 2:00PM followed by Interment) at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery and Mausoleum in Indianapolis, where Betty will be laid to rest beside her Tom. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a donation in Betty’s name to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

We Love you Betty/Mom/Mimi. Rest In Peace.