Anna Ruth (Knepper) Thomas

Thomas

Anna Ruth Thomas, 80, of Meyersdale, died June 12, 2016 at home. Born November 19, 1935 in Meyersdale, the daughter of the late Edward S. and Miriam E. (Hillegas) Knepper.  

Survived by her husband of 52 years, Adrian; and her five sons: Father Alan Thomas, Bellwood; Alex (Nicole) Thomas, Aurora, Illinois; Aaron (Rita) Thomas and Andrew (Stephanie) Thomas, both of Meyersdale; and Adam (Cheria) Thomas, LaVale, Maryland; grandchildren: Shana, Henry, Aiden, and Geneva. Preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Bernice Dunfee; and brother, Bruce Knepper Sr. 

A special thank you to her caregivers: Teresa Werner, Jen Buterbaugh, Candra Steras, Nikki Lutz, and Kathy Mostoller.

Prior to her marriage, Anna Ruth was a member of the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren, where she was an organist and accompanist for the Men’s Chorus. Anna Ruth was a well-known musician in the Meyersdale area and gave private piano and organ lessons. She played her first wedding when she was 11 years old and played from hundreds of weddings during her long career. She was the accompanist for many groups, including the Casselman Valley Choral Society, and performed in the pit band for Meyersdale Area High School musicals from 1981 to 2012. A longtime volunteer for the PA Maple Festival, she was also the accompanist for the Maple Queen Scholarship Pageant and the “Legend of the Magic Water.” Anna Ruth was a substitute teacher for 30 years and also a partner in and bookkeeper for the family business, F.B. Thomas Drug Store. She received the Meyersdale Lions Club Citizen of the Year Award in 2007 and was a Somerset County Salute to Women Award honoree in 2010. She was a noted philanthropist in the Meyersdale area. Anna Ruth was a member of SS. Philip and James Catholic Church, Meyersdale, where she was an organist, pianist, and choir director for many years and also taught Sunday school.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Price Funeral Service, Meyersdale. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at SS. Philip and James Catholic Church, Meyersdale, with the Most Rev. Mark L. Bartchak presiding and Father Alan Thomas, celebrant. Committal SS. Philip and James Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to SS. Philip and James Catholic Church, 247 High St., Meyersdale, PA 15552 or Pennsylvania Maple Festival, PO Box 222, Meyersdale, PA 15552.

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