Her sweet and gentle soul passed from her earthly home in Richland into her heavenly home on April 20, 2006.

Anna was born July 7, 1917, in Tell City, Indiana to Edward and Katherine Brush.  She attended high school in Terre Haute where she played the cello in the orchestra, learned Latin and French, and formed a band with friends.  She met Dennis Thomas at a church teen social, and they fell in a love that lasted a lifetime.  They married December 31, 1937.  In March of 1944, Denny left to work at Hanford.  In May, Anna, having never driven any farther than 5 miles at a time, drove for 4 days across the country with their 4-year-old son to join her husband.

Anna raised their two children with patience and love.  Never once did she raise her hand to her children, her quiet reprimands were sufficient.  She designed and sewed fashionable clothing for her family and herself, crocheted afghans and doilies, enjoyed painting with watercolors and oils.  She loved decorating her home, one never knew where the furniture would land next.  Even when money was tight, her meals were delicious, nutritious, and always followed by dessert.  Her pie crusts were perfect, her apple pies to drool for.

In the early 1960’s, she used her inner strength and determination to become a nurse.  She worked at the old Kadlec Hospital when it was barracks and at the new Kadlec’s medical and surgical floors where she gained the respect and life-long affection of fellow nurses.

When they retired, Anna and Denny traveled all over America, exploring the places her adventurous heart had yearned to see.  Late in life, they learned Morse Code and became Ham radio operators.  Their good and true friends at First Baptist Church of Richland stood by her when she lost her husband and then as her health failed.  Throughout her life, wherever she went, God showered her with the blessing of friendships.

Anna was preceded in death by her parents, sister Helen, and husband.  She is survived by her son Wayne and wife Lorena, her daughter Susan and husband Joe Williams who was much more than a son-in-law to them in their final years, and by 7 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, and by 3 nieces and their children.  Proverbs 31:10-31.

Funeral services will be at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, 2006, at Einan’s Funeral Home.  Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens.  A reception will follow at First Baptist Church, 1107 Wright Ave.

Visitation will be at Einan’s from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Monday, April 24.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at the Tri-Cities Chaplaincy, 2108 W. Entiat Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336.