Gladys May Thomas

Our beloved, Gladys May Thomas, 84, of Waldorf, Maryland, passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Born on August 30, 1940, in Newburgh, New York, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Elizabeth Conklin. Gladys devoted much of her life taking care of her family. She followed her husband to Hawaii and Germany during his career in the Air Force, while raising their three children. They settled in Waldorf, Maryland when Dave retired from the Air Force in 1978 to take a job in the government. Taking care of her grandchildren was her greatest joy. She was known as both grandma and Mimi to them. When the older grandkids were school age, she took a job working in the cafeteria in various schools in Charles County. She enjoyed her interactions with the students and staff. She liked playing cards, particularly Gin Rummy, Pinochle, Euchre, and later, Solitaire on the computer. She was a fan of Washington Redskins football team, her favorite player was Wide Receiver, Art Monk. She and Dave went to watch him be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Gladys also liked visiting Amish markets in Annapolis and St. Mary’s County. In addition to her parents, Gladys was preceded in death by her sisters, Betty Meyers and Harriett Keefauver, and her brothers, Edward, Harry Jr., and Robert Conklin. Gladys is survived by her husband of 65 years, David W. Thomas Jr.; her sister, Barbara Meyers; her daughters, Kathlyn Finch (husband Jerry) and Maria Ferguson (husband Tim); her son, David Thomas III (wife Denise); her grandchildren, Leanne Gingell (husband Steve), Randy Finch, Danny Finch (wife Taylor), Christopher Lange (wife Jenny), Christina Thomas, and David J. Thomas; as well as her great-grandchildren, Marli, McKenna, Cyrus, Eli, Mia, Olivia, Finn, Spencer, and Emilee. You are welcome to make donations in Gladys’ name to the following organizations: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, (Memorial and Honor Program), 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942, (online at www.stjude.org), Hospice of the Chesapeake, 2505 Davis Road, Waldorf, MD 20603 (Make a Secure Online Donation | Hospice of the Chesapeake), American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.

Gladys May Thomas

August 30, 1940 - June 21, 2025