Doris R. Thomas

Doris R. Thomas, Greencastle, died Sunday, July 14, 2013. She was 84, born May 4, 1929.

She would have been married 60 years Sept. 13 to Robert J. Thomas, who survives her.

Also surviving are a son, Andrew J. Thomas and wife Kathi, a daughter, Sharon K. Williams, an older brother, Philip Kline, and grandchildren Heather and husband Kyle, Brian, Dustin and Derek.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Kearney Kline and Ruth Ellen Kline, and an older brother, Jack Kline, who was a director of The President's Own Marine Band.

She was a graduate of University of Louisville and attended graduate school at IU, where she worked for Noble Prize-winning geneticist Muller, where she peeled fruit fly eggs for irradiation.

She owned and operated the Animal Shack Pet Store in downtown Greencastle for several years.

She belonged to the Presbyterian Church of Greencastle. She was a member of Mensa. She was a lifelong international ethnic folk dancer (where she and her husband met). She was active in INPAWS Indiana Plant and Wildflower Society) and a Master Gardener. She was an avid supporter of Heifer International.

She worked with both Boy and Girl Scouts. She was a volunteer at the Putnam County Humane Society. For many years she was on the board of Horizon courses. She was active in Contact (the former Greencastle telephone crisis intervention line) and on the board of the Putnam County Mental Health organization.

With her husband, she taught a winter term course on human sexuality at DePauw. She was very interested in the Putnam County Museum and for years provided plantings of native plants in front of the museum.

She was a member of various other organizations such as National Wildlife Federation, Planned Parenthood (Indiana and International), NAACP, NOW and Indiana Land Trust.

Funeral services will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 18 at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle, with Rev. Wes Kendall officiating, cremation to follow.

The family will receive friends from 3 p.m. Thursday until time of service at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made to Heifer International, either directly (1015 Louisiana St., Little Rock, AR 72202) or to Greencastle Presbyterian Church marked for Heifer, or to the Putnam County Museum.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family c/o www.BittlesandHurt.com.