Dolores Ann Thoma

Dolores Ann (Forter) Thoma

February 21, 1938 – October 15, 2023

Dolores Ann Thoma was born on February 21, 1938 in Monroe, Michigan to Henry and Gertrude (Ziegler) Forter. 

Dolores attended Saint John grade school and was a proud graduate of Saint Mary Academy, class of 1956.

Dolores had a gift for book and record keeping and talked fondly of her time working for the First National Bank of Monroe. She also worked for Marathon Oil Co. and later, as a medical biller in the family practice office of Doctor Joseph Hunt in Carleton, Michigan. 

Dolores married Bernard (Bernie) Thoma on January 24, 1970 at Saint John Catholic Church in Monroe. In January 2020, they were able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a mass and gathering of family and friends. They were both members of Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Carleton (now called Divine Grace) and volunteered there for many events over the years. 

Although she forever considered herself a city girl, Dolores lived most of her life on South Stony Creek Road surrounded by farm fields of the Thoma family Centennial Farm with her late husband, Bernie who passed away on March 29, 2023. 

She enjoyed her gardens and flowers there as well as the birds and animals that frequented the yard. She enjoyed books about the First Ladies of the U.S. and adored anything regarding Queen Elizabeth I and II. She and Bernie also enjoyed playing Rummy, reading about area history, visiting local parks and saying the Rosary together in the evenings. 

Over the years Dolores and Bernie took various train trips to the East Coast and through parts of Michigan, Canada, Alaska and the Yukon. They both enjoyed bus and road trips to see the country and visit family.  

Dolores loved her nieces and nephews and attended every family milestone event possible for many years. She was known best for her signature baked beans and jell-o salad she made for every family gathering. 

Dolores is survived by many close nieces and nephews: Dawn Forter, Jan DuVall, Donald Wayne Forter, Paul Thoma, Schawna Thoma, Sheri Montoye, Yvonne Thoma-Patton, Kurt Thoma, Vanessa Johnson and Elizabeth Brokaw as well has her brother in-law Edward Thoma (Donna) of Roscommon and many beloved Thoma and Hoffman family members. She was preceded in death by her brother, Donald H. Forter, sister-in-law Ethel L. Forter and Deborah (Forter) Brown, niece and goddaughter. 

Family and friends may visit at Rupp Funeral Home on Thursday, October 19 from 3pm to 7pm with the rosary at 6pm. Services will take place on Friday October 20, at Divine Grace. She will lie in state at 10am, with mass at 11. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Monroe.

The Forter and Thoma families extend a heartfelt thank you to the caregiving teams at Right at Home, Hickory Ridge of Temperance and Hospice of Northwest Ohio for their compassion and hard work.  

Memorial donations in honor of Dolores are suggested to St. Patrick School or Divine Grace Parish of Carleton.