Carolyn Marie Thomas

LAKELAND - Mrs. Carolyn Marie Thomas, 87, passed away at her home in Lakeland, FL on Thursday, August 31, 2023.  Mrs. Thomas was born March 8, 1936 in Alva, FL and was a former longtime Fort Meade resident.  She was a very strong lady with a giving heart and the willingness to help anyone who needed her during their time of struggle.  Mrs. Thomas was the wife of United States Marine Captain Velpeau Carlton Thomas, and as a 2nd Lt. he earned the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving a Platoon Commander on July 31, 1966 during the Vietnam Conflict.  

In 1973 she was widowed and left to raise seven children on her own, and also opened her home to countless others who needed a place to live and daily meals.  Along with assuming the work of a military wife,  Mrs. Thomas was a homemaker and mother to her children with an open door policy to her family and friends, and also sold real estate as a Florida Realtor; and she was of the Pentecostal faith.

     Mrs. Thomas was preceded in death by her husband, Velpeau Carlton Thomas; parents, Donald and Ula Ard; daughter, Vickie Thomas McDuffie; sisters, Barbara, Vivian and Evon.

     She is survived by her children, Tom Velpeau Thomas, Jr. & wife Linda, Ocala, FL, Donna Marie Trobaugh & husband Allen, Webster, FL, Frances Schaill & husband Fred, Zephyrhills, Fl, Terry Thomas and wife Brenda, Fort Meade, FL, Ben Thomas, Lakeland, FL and Becky Wheeler & husband Mid Ard, Texas; Richard Ard & wife Evelyn, sister, Margie Stokes Biddle & husband Quinton, all of Fort Meade, FL.

     Grandchildren, Dakota, Cheryl, Michelle, Larry, Aaron, Rachael, Amy, David, Freddy, Krystal, Emily Thomas, Jacob. Norda Ethan, Jacob, Jordan, Aden, Heather, Leather, John, and 'Kimberly, Ben, Jr. 'BB".  several great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and many friends.

      Visitation in will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at the First Church of God, 215 S. Perry Ave., Fort Meade, FL  Funeral services will follow in the church sanctuary at 11:00 a.m.  

       Hancock Funeral Home, Fort Meade, FL 33841