Barbara Jan Thomas

Barbara Jan Thomas of Avon Lake, passed away Saturday, January 30, 2021 from Alzheimer's disease. She was 76. Jan and her husband, Russ were residents of Valley City for more than 30 years. Besides her husband of 53 years, she is survived by her sons, Todd and his wife, Stephanie (Clayton) of Austin, Texas and Scott and his wife, Kim (Hasek) of Avon Lake and daughter, Jennifer Thomas Demmerle of Strongsville. Jan is also survived by her brothers, Mike and his wife, Adrienne Ledford and Dan and his wife, Cheryl Ledford, both of Tucson, Arizona; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and her dog, Bailey. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Betty (Paisley) Ledford of Tucson, Arizona and teenage son, Brad. After attending Ohio State where she met her husband, she worked as a flight attendant for United Airlines until becoming a stay-at-home mom. In her mid 30's, she went back to school earning an RN diploma from Fairview Hospital School of Nursing and a bachelor's degree from Baldwin Wallace College. Her nursing career span more than 20 years always working in critical care first at Fairview and then ICU at Medina Hospital. In retirement, she and Russ would spend their summers at their home on Kelleys Island and winters in Tucson. Her hobbies included sewing, riding her bike and their horses. As a teenager, she would enter horse shows while her parents were stationed overseas in Europe with the Air Force. There will be a public viewing from 6 to 7 p.m., Thursday, February 4, 2021 at the Bauer Funeral Home, 2089 Columbia Road, Valley City. The visitors are asked to honor one another in social distancing, wear facial coverings, come pay your respects and kindly exit. Family and friends are asked to meet 11 a.m., Friday, February 5, 2021 at St. Martin of Tours, 1800 Station Road, Valley City to Celebrate the Burial Mass for Jan. Burial will be at St. Martin Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the Medina Hospital Foundation.