Vyola F. Thomas

February 5, 2015

GENEVA - Vyola F. (Preston) Thomas of Geneva, N.Y., formerly of Saranac Lake, N.Y. and Edgewater, Fla., passed away peacefully on Thursday (February 5, 2015) at Living Center South in Geneva at the age of 92. Friends may call on Saturday (February 14) from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the DeVaney-Bennett Funeral Home, 181 N. Main St., Geneva, N.Y. Memorial Services will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A spring burial will be held at Pine Ridge Cemetery in Saranac Lake. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 435 E. Henrietta Rd., Rochester, N.Y.,14620 or the American Cancer Society, 1120 S. Goodman St., Rochester, N.Y.,14620. Vyola was born on August 12, 1922 in Lisbon, N.Y. She was the daughter of Andrew and Ella Humes Preston. The family moved to Saranac Lake in 1931 due to her father's health and she graduated from Saranac Lake High School. She worked at Leonard's Department Store and Montgomery Ward as a bookkeeper and retired as Office Manager for David Rowell at Adirondack Medical Center. She did book work at night for her husband's Howard wholesale distributor business in the Tri-Lakes Area. Vyola was involved in many area organizations as well as the United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, where she married Howard in 1943. She was a proud 50 year member of the Business and Professional Women's Club in Saranac Lake, Edgewater, Fla. and Geneva. She served the BPW as President of the local club as well as serving as District Director for the Adirondack Region for many years attending numerous state conventions which she was very proud of. Her hobbies included reading and doing crossword puzzles until the past couple of years when her health declined. She is survived by her only child, Melvin (Dianne) Thomas of Geneva; and proud of her two grandson's, Michael (Brigette) Thomas of Mooresville, N.C. and Matthew (Amy) Thomas of Auburn, N.Y.; four great-grandchildren, Ryan and Madison of North Carolina and Austin Joseph and Alyssa of Auburn; several nieces, nephews, and two sisters-in-law. Vyola was predeceased by her husband Howard in 1977. She was also predeceased by her sisters: Lois (Roy) Finn, Ida Mae (John) Moody, and Irma (Russell) Buck.