Mary Ellen (Bartlett) Thomas

Mary Ellen (Bartlett) Thomas was granted her angel wings on Sunday, March 1, 2020, at the age of 90, surrounded by her loving husband and family. 

Mary Ellen was born February 28, 1930, in Lima, the daughter of Ruth (Blooser) and Earl Bartlett, who both preceded her in death. A 1948 graduate of Van Wert High School, Mary Ellen married her high school sweetheart, Don Gene Thomas, on April 15, 1951. 

Together they had five wonderful children, Kevin (Deb Hire) Thomas of Van Wert, Rodney Thomas, who is deceased; Kay (Jim) Carter of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Ronda (Marc Flores) Thomas of Los Angeles, California; and Jan (Todd Plummer) Osenbaugh of Lima. Mary Ellen enjoyed spending time with her seven grandchildren, Brian Thomas, Dara (John) Bennett, Jade Osenbaugh, Jason Osenbaugh, Kim (Dane) Brandt-Lubart, Max Earl, and Ava Flores; and five great-grandchildren.

Mary Ellen was a homemaker turned jail house matron when her husband became sheriff of Van Wert County in 1968. Once retired, Don and Mary Ellen enjoyed yearly snow birding to Phoenix, Arizona.

Mary Ellen actively enjoyed attending her yearly high school reunions. She was known for the costumes she had made for the Van Wert Civic Theatre and was an active member of the Van Wert Woman’s Club, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 178, as well as Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary 4803. Mary Ellen enjoyed attending lunch with her friends at Hearth and Home. In her free time, she enjoyed watching the birds out her kitchen window with her husband. 

Mary Ellen was also preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Bartlett, and a sister, Diane Baer Stuart.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 6, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert. Burial will follow in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 5, and an hour prior to the services Friday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials: Niswonger Performing Arts Center.

Condolences may be expressed at www.alspachgearhart.com.