Lillian Ruth Thomas, age 99, of Rio Grande passed away peacefully at home on Monday May 11, 2026. She was born March 26, 1927 in Gallia County, to the late Emmett W. Church and Gladys Davis Church. In addition to her parents, she was preceded by her husband, Donald B. Thomas whom she married on August 3, 1947; daughters, Barbara Thomas and Cynthia Langona; granddaughter, Elizabeth Langona Neal; brother, Wilbert Church; and sister-in-law, Marie Church.

Lillian was a longtime member of Kyger Congregational Christian Church, where she served as treasurer, Sunday School teacher, deaconess, and deacon. She was also an associate member of Christ United Methodist Church and active in the Missions Committee. Lillian graduated from Mercerville High School and attended Rio Grande College, Ohio University and Missouri Valley College. She worked as a secretary in the Quincy, Illinois school system, later she joined her husband’s insurance agency in Gallipolis, Ohio. She also volunteered as a bookkeeper for Gallia Christian School and volunteered at Holzer Center for Cancer Care. Lillian was a member of the Little Kyger Farm Bureau Council and Gallia County Homemakers.

She is survived by her son, Richard (Bobbi) Thomas; son-in-law, Michael Langona; grandchildren, Pete (Elaine) Droge, Bree (Tim) Ramey, James (Myra) Thomas, Bridget (Joshua) Kennedy, Jaime (Gabriel) Fry; great-grandchildren, Jonathan Ramey, Julia Neal, Miles and Sydney Thomas, Atticus and Juniper Fry; sister, Alma (Jim) Harris; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be 3:00 PM. Saturday August 1, 2026 at the Waugh-Halley-Wood Funeral Home with Pastor Kandy Nuce officiating. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday from 2:00 PM. till time of the service.

Following the memorial service a dinner will be served for anyone who wants to join us at the Mason County Family Support Center, 624 Main Street, Point Pleasant, WV 25550.

An online guest registry is available at www.waugh-halley-wood.com