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Thomas, Arlene D.
Arlene D. Thomas, 89, of Meadowview Assisted Living, died Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, from complications of congestive heart failure, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids. Services: 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 26, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, by Chaplain Deb Black. Visitation: 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include her children, Rebecca Greenman and Barbara Croll-Jelinek (Jerry), both of Cedar Rapids; three grandchildren, Jodie McMurrin and Shannon Greenman, both of Cedar Rapids, and Jessaca (Ricky) Spratt of Theodore, Alab.; stepgrandson, Jeremy Jelinek; five great-grandchildren, Brandon McMurrin, Melissa McMurrin, Austin Greenman and Lane and Gabe Spratt; her siblings, Robert Bowler of Arizona, Lela (Keith) Reif of Cedar Rapids and Jeanette Elgin of Center Point; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Racene; daughter, Janice Hughes; son-in-law, George Croll Jr.; brother, George Bowler; sister, Beatrice Thomas; cousin, Elsie Doetzel-Cambridge; niece, Susan Elgin; great-nephews, Kurt Reif and Edward Kucia; brothers in-law, Edwin “Eddie” Thomas, Jr., Lamonte Thomas, Earl Thomas and Robert Elgin; and sister-in-law, Earlene Bowler.
Arlene was born March 10, 1922, the daughter of Robert and Dora (Furman) Bowler, in Minneapolis, Minn. On Feb. 2, 1944, she was united in marriage to Racene Thomas. He died in 2000. Arlene worked at the Lincoln School cafeteria, was a seamstress at Armstrong's and also worked at Kirkwood in the child care center.
She was a member of Sharon United Methodist Church and VFW Women's Auxillary No. 788. Arlene enjoyed gardening, watching movies, playing bingo at VFW and going to church activities. She also enjoyed cooking, dancing, sewing, traveling, drawing and working word puzzles.
Most important to Arlene was her family. She was a kind and loving woman who always had a smile and a hug for everyone. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
A memorial fund has been established in memory of Arlene.
Please sign the online guest book for Arlene at under obituaries.
Published Sept. 23, 2011, in The Gazette
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