Marilyn Eleanor Thomas

Funeral services for Marilyn Eleanor Thomas, 75, Mineola, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday in the First Baptist Church of Mineola. Burial will be in the Cedars Memorial Cemetery with Pastor Dan Danheim officiating under the direction of Beaty Funeral Home of Mineola.

The beloved Marilyn Thomas entered into eternal rest on May 19, 2012, in Tyler. She was born in New York City, New York, to the late Gunnar Anton Wallen and Greta Winberg Wallen. She attended public school in the New York City, as well as in Panama and Venezuela. She attended high school in San Marcos, Texas at San Marcos Baptist Academy where she was a member of the National Honor Society.

After graduating high school she attended Texas Women's University in Denton where she graduated with her BSN degree as a registered nurse. While at TWU, she was a charter member of The Honor Society of Nursing - Sigma Theta Tau.

She met her soon to be husband at Parkland Hospital in Dallas where Dr. Thomas conducted his residency after medical school. The two wed on July 29, 1957. After stops in Beaumont, Gladewater, and Grand Saline, Dr. Thomas opened his own clinic in Mineola in 1966. Marilyn was his "right hand (wo)man" at the clinic for the next 32 years. Regular patients called her Dr. Marilyn because they all knew she was truly her husbands equal when it came to taking care of the patients.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law Karol Ann and Gary Cornelius, Tyler; sons and daughter-in-law, Mike A. Thomas, Irving, Dwight G. and Kristy Thomas, Arp; grandson and wife, Chase and Nicole Thomas, Canton; and granddaughter, Kaitlyn Thomas, Arp. Also, a brother, Richard A. Wallen, West Palm Beach, FL.

Pallbearers will be Craig Kizer, Matt Malone, Tim Malone, Otho Nichols, Stephen Nichols, and Sean Callahan. Honorary pallbearers will be Kurt Vanderslice, Donal Steph, M.D., Dr. Robert Carney, M.D., Dr. Joe Prudhomme, M.D., Micky Malone, Bo Whitus, Jerry Cloud, Mike Gollob, Dr. Toby McClenny, Robert Bruce, Bobby Riggs, Mike Crump, and Dr. Joe Mack King.

Visitation will be at the Beaty Funeral Home of Mineola Monday evening from 6-8 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Hospice Home Place of Tyler or charity of choice. She was a devoted servant to her Lord, family, and friends. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.