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Virginia was born in Red Rock, OK at her grandparents’ home on the Otoe-Missouria Reservation on August 8, 1927, to Hildegarde Moore and Walter D “Bud” Harris. She was raised in Ponca City where she attended Ponca City schools. During her junior year, the family relocated to Longview, Texas. She graduated from Longview High School in 1945; and attended Kilgore Junior College where she was a member of the famed Kilgore Rangerettes Dance Team. This was an achievement Virginia enjoyed recounting during the Rangerettes performance at the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She then pursued her education goals by graduating from Oklahoma A&M College (Oklahoma State Univ. Stillwater) with a BS and MA in Health and Physical Education. She was preceded in death by her parents of Guthrie, OK; her only sibling, Walter D Harris, Jr. of Ponca City, OK; and, her husband, Charles William “Bill” Thomas of Stillwater, OK. Virginia and Bill were married in 1950 at the First United Methodist Church in Stillwater, OK. Virginia’s support was in her presence. She rarely missed anything in which her husband or children were involved. Virginia never passed up a teachable moment for social or civic training in the home, and she dedicated her time and activities to a purposeful life of managing a busy home and raising their four children. Her life was filled with her children’s carpools, homework, slumber parties, tennis lessons, piano lessons, ball games, dance recitals, scout meetings, award ceremonies, and special events. She organized the family trips, hosted church functions, and family gatherings. Virginia was the master of tablescapes. She could transform a simple gathering into a special occasion. As a long-time resident of Stillwater, Virginia was active in numerous civic endeavors. She served on many local and state boards, committees, and clubs. Her particular interests were in Arts & Humanities, Historical Preservation, and Physical Education. She took great pride in her family being once named as the Oklahoma Physical Fitness Family. She valued her life-long membership in PEO, Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and the Rangerettes Alumni. With her children grown, and after her husband died in 1990, Virginia established and ran a bed and breakfast in Stillwater befriending guests from Europe to Asia. In 2010, Virginia moved to Tulsa where she continued to make friends wherever she went. Virginia enjoyed association in recent years with First United Methodist Church Tulsa. Virginia had strength of character and natural leadership ability. In her life, she interacted with political and business leaders, and outstanding entertainers of the day. She did her best to heed the advice of her Otoe Grandfather who told her as a young girl “You’ll be experiencing adverse situations. Adapt to white man’s culture and their ways but never forget your Indian heritage and pride”. This was the same advice he had given to Virginia’s full-blood Otoe mother in 1923 when she married Virginia’s full-blood Irish father. She was proud of her heritage, Native American and Irish, which influenced her life. Her nickname was “Irish”. Virginia was the oldest Otoe-Missouria Indian at the time of her death. Virginia is survived by her four children: Betty Hanson of Dallas, TX, Carolyn Rogers (Robert) of Memphis, TN, Harley Thomas (Debra) of Tulsa, OK, and Barbara Sue “Susie” Ewing of Garland, TX; eight grandchildren: Meridith Brewer (Todd), Ashley Sanford (Mark), Laura Wommack (Joel), Robert Rogers, Ben Thomas (Noelle), Ellen Buettner (Justin Wolf), Kathryn Thomas (Daniel Maturana), and Ryan Ewing; ten great grandchildren: Harrison Brewer, Preston Brewer, Hudson Sanford, Charlie Sanford, Will Wommack, Annie Wommack, Olivia Thomas, Parker Thomas, Clark Buettner, and Calvin Buettner, and niece: Chris Harris Graham (Byron) of Edmond, OK. The family thanks the staff and management of Zarrow Pointe Kaiser Health Care Center and Miller Hospice for their compassion and care. The family welcomes memorial designations in Virginia’s name. Please consider: The Otoe-Missouria Tribe Higher Education Department, 8151 Highway 177, Red Rock, OK, 74651; Alpha Omicron 75th Anniversary Scholarship with the Alpha Delta Foundation, Alpha Delta Pi Foundation 1386 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA, 30306, or a charity of donor’s choice. Arrangements by Serenity Funeral Home of Tulsa. There will be a family Celebration of Life and Interment service at Summit View Cemetery in Guthrie, OK at a future date.

Tributes

Virginia Harris Thomas

August 8, 1927 - February 27, 2025