Thomas, Clara Walker,100, passed away on January 12, 2017 at Madison Health and Rehab in Richmond, KY. She was born on July 14, 1916 in Telfair County, GA to Joseph Fenton and Sadie Silver Walker.Clara's youth was spent in Lumber City, GA on the family farm. She graduated from Lumber City High School in 1934. After high school, she graduated from nursing school and moved to Kentucky to work at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lexington in 1937. She returned to school at the University of Kentucky and graduated in the first Baccalaureate program offered for nurses at UK.Clara married James Estel Thomas in 1938 in Lexington, KY and raised four children while attending school, working full-time and attending to household responsibilities. She worked at Good Samaritan for over 40 years and as a hospital volunteer at St. Joseph's Hospital for 15 years. She knitted caps for newborn babies for many years as a hobby. Other hobbies include painting, gardening, crocheting, knitting, sewing and rooting for the Wildcats. She was a faithful member of St. Mark's Catholic Church in Richmond, KY.Clara was preceded in death by her husband, mother and father, sister Jewel, brother William Jordan and son-in-law Richard Argo.She is survived by a brother; Joseph Fenton Walker, Jr. (Robie); two sons; James Estel Thomas, Jr. (Marie) and William Joseph Thomas, Sr. (Tamara), two daughters; Barbara Jean Marletta (Vince) and Judith Anne Argo.In four generations surviving Clara are fifteen grandchildren, twenty-three great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She also leaves behind numerous relatives and friends.Visitation and funeral will be held at Milward Funeral Home on Southland Drive in Lexington, KY. Visitation will be on Monday, January 16 from 6-8 p.m., and the funeral will be held on Tuesday, January 17 at 1 p.m. Father Tom Farrell will officiate. Entombment will follow immediately after the funeral at Bluegrass Memorial Gardens, Harrodsburg Road, Nicholasville, KY.Pallbearer and honorary pallbearer duties will be handled by the grandchildren and great grandchildren.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to , St. Mark's Catholic Church or the Salvation Army. Condolences may be left on the Clara W. Thomas online guest book at
www.milwardfuneral.com.
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