Dorothy "Dottie" Thomas, 1924-2015

Dorothy "Dottie" Thomas, 1924-2015

The following obituary is from the June 23, 2015 edition of the Cumberland Times-News. It should be noted that "Dottie" Thomas was a mentor of Albert L. Feldstein who is a collaborator in the development of this website. Her husband, the late Danny Thomas, also helped initiate Feldstein's interest in the writing and self-publication of local and regional history.

CUMBERLAND — Dorothy “Dottie” May Thomas, 90, of Cumberland, passed away Saturday, June 20, 2015, at her home.

Born July 30, 1924, in Grant Town, W.Va., Dottie was the daughter of the late Raymond Earle Barth, Sr., and Bessie Catherine (Paugh) Barth.

Dottie was a 1942 graduate of Fairmont Senior High School. She married Danny Thomas in 1945, who preceded her in death in 2001. She was a homemaker but an active community volunteer and servant for many organizations during her 60+ years in Cumberland.

Dottie was the past president of the Junior Women’s Civic Club and past president of the LaVale Century Club. She served as the first hostess at the Toll House in LaVale and welcomed guests to Allegany County. Dottie served the C. William Gilchrist Museum, coordinating social and special events. She later served as a volunteer and educational tour guide at the Allegany Museum and was selected as the Volunteer of the Year in 2013 and 2014. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

At Allegany College of Maryland, Dottie was a member of the Allegany College of Maryland Foundation Board of Directors, where she helped to initiate the Lunch and Learn Seminar Series. Dottie was instrumental in the establishment of the College’s Appalachian Collection. She volunteered thousands of hours for over 30 years helping families from throughout the nation and world conduct genealogical research, where she was acclaimed for her ancestral knowledge and research. Dottie was a member of the Church of Christ in Cumberland.

Dottie is survived by her brother, Raymond Earle Barth, Weirton, W.Va.; her nephews, Raymond Barth, III, and wife, Iva, and Bill Barth and wife, Kathy. Dottie is also survived by several great-nieces and great-nephews.

Friends will be received at the Adams Family Funeral Home, P.A., 404 Decatur St., Cumberland, on Wednesday, June 24, 2015, from 3 to 7 p.m.

A funeral service to be conducted at the funeral home on Thursday, June 25, 2015, at 11 a.m., with Minister Steven Hershberger officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Interment will be in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery at Rocky Gap.