Phoebe Blanche Thomas

Phoebe Blanche Thomas (née Lee), 87, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away on the evening of August 29, 2026, at Heritage Park in Fort Wayne.

Phoebe was born December 29, 1938, in Oilton, Oklahoma. Soon after, her family relocated to Browns, Illinois, where she was raised. She attended Edwards County Senior High in Albion, Illinois. After graduating, she began working for Snap-on Tools. She and Larry Thomas first knew one another through church, before he moved away with his first wife to Kansas City, Missouri, where he attended classes at Calvary Bible College, and started a family. After his wife passed away in October 1969, Larry returned to Grayville, Illinois, and began attending church again in Mount Carmel, where he and Phoebe rekindled their friendship. They were married on February 14, 1970. Phoebe and Larry were married for 49 years before divorcing. She went on to have a lengthy career as a bookkeeper for JCPenney and was also a devoted homemaker. Throughout their marriage, Phoebe worked faithfully alongside Larry in his ministry endeavors, including child evangelism and funeral directing, serving as his steadfast assistant and partner in both life and work. She attended Waynedale Baptist Church for many years, and Fort Wayne Assembly of God in earlier years.

Phoebe was a quiet, reserved woman who nonetheless was never shy about sharing her opinion when it mattered. She was also a talented accordion player, often performing duets with Larry at church and taking the stage as a soloist as well. One of their favorite songs to perform together was "I've Checked My Gear," by Reverend Jimmy Eastman, her former pastor. She made something so difficult look effortless, and she was never happier or more radiant than when she had that accordion in her hands. Her talent on the accordion will be dearly missed. Phoebe was also a gifted cake decorator, a skill she learned from her mother-in-law, and she decorated many professional wedding cakes over the years for family and friends.

Though she raised her son Brian from childhood, Phoebe formally adopted him in 1993 in North Dakota, wanting to be, in her words, a true and legitimate grandmother to his children. The two of them stood alone before the judge that day — a small, memorable moment that became a favorite family story.

She is survived by her son, Brian J. Thomas, and his wife, Garsy, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; her daughters, Cheryl Rene Thomas and Kari Lee Thomas, both of Fort Wayne, Indiana; her brother, Richard Lee, and his wife, Wilma, of Mount Carmel, Illinois; her sister, Freda Willoughby of Crown Point, Illinois; and her grandchildren, Ty Thomas and his wife, Jelly, of Fort Wayne; Ethan Thomas and his wife, Rain, of Fort Wayne; Wyatt Thomas of Fort Wayne; and Aryn Keeney and her wife, Devyn, of Chicago, Illinois. She is also survived by Kelli Spedden and her son, Leo, whom Phoebe considered family in every way that mattered.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Enoch and Mabel Lee (née Miller) of Mount Carmel, Illinois; her former husband, Larry Eugene Thomas; her sister, Mary Louise Huffman; and her brothers, Howard and Gerald Lee.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 PM on Monday, September 14, 2026, at Peace United Church of Christ, 9123 Aboite Center Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46804. German chocolate cake and ice-cold Coca-Cola will be provided.

Memorial offerings will be handled through Hess Funeral Home.

To sign the online guestbook or to share a memory, please visit www.hessfuneralhome.com or find us on Facebook.

Arrangements and care entrusted to Hess Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Fort Wayne, IN.