Mrs. Helen Thomas passed away on Saturday, August 24, 2019 in York, Pennsylvania.
Born on October 6, 1943 to Herman Kearse and Virginia (Murdaugh) Kearse, Helen was one of ten children, remaining close to her family even after starting a family of her own.

Two years following her graduation from William Penn Senior High School in 1961, on December 8, 1963, Helen married Richard Thomas, Sr., with whom she lovingly raised three children: Richard “Rock” Thomas, Jr., Kirsten (Thomas) Woodyard, and Tanya (Thomas) Jones.

While she worked in the home as a doting mother, Helen also found outside employment to provide for her family. Throughout her life, Helen worked primarily in manufacturing, crafting confectionaries and cakes for both Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing and Dawn Food Products, Inc., from which she retired. When she wasn’t working or caring for her children, Helen enjoyed engaging in the hobbies of cooking, gambling, spending time in the company of loved ones, and volunteering with the South York Boys Club Ladies Auxiliary.

The loss of Helen will be felt most by her family, including her children Richard Jr., Kirsten (Ray), and Tanya (Erick), grandchildren Erick Jones, Jr., Anthony Woodyard, Xavier Jones, and Isaiah Woodyard. Her siblings Clary Kearse (Janette), Herman Kearse (Rose), Thomas Kearse, Levoid Kearse, and Larry Kearse will all be left to cherish the memory of their sister. Helen is also survived by her mother-in-law, Kathleen Gelzer. Additionally, Helen leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters Mary Leonard and Janie Kearse, brothers Harold Kearse, Samuel Kearse, and Michael Kearse, sisters-in-law Gladys Holland and Jacqueline Kearse, and brother-in-law Paul Thomas.

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