Carole Marie Gillard

CAROLE MARIE THOMAS GILLARD, a resident of Alexandria, Virginia and Findley Lake, New York was born on 29 February 1944 in Phoenix, Arizona to LtCol Ross John Thomas Jr.,and Vera Marie Powell. She was raised in Munhall, Pennsylvania where her parents resided after World War II. Her summers were spent at the family farm in the Findley Lake, New York area where she learned and excelled at horseback riding, swimming and water skiing. The farm remained an important place throughout her life as it was the one location where she could return during many moves around the country. Carole was a graduate of Munhall High School where she was an honor student, a member of the National Honor Society, an editor of the school newspaper and a member of several clubs and organizations. Following graduation, she attended Grove City College where she studied electrical engineering and earned a Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering degree. She was a member of the Sigma Theta Chi Sorority, the Adagio Dance Team and the Outing Club. Carole married her high school sweetheart after both graduated from college and then began a long period of service as a Navy wife. During over 27 years of moving frequently to new home ports, she was a loving mother and raised their only child to be the fine person and family man that he became. Carole worked in her chosen field as a design engineer first for a commercial lighting firm and then as a design engineer in the Electrical Design Division at the Electric Boat Company Division of General Dynamics which designs and builds the majority of our nation's nuclear-powered submarines. Carole gave freely of her time doing volunteer work. She volunteered at the Navy-Marine Corp Relief Society for many years as a receptionist/counselor where she helped many young sailors and marines get through rough times in their lives. Later she volunteered for many years in the public schools as an assistant librarian. Carole is survived by her husband of 58 years, James H. Gillard; son, Thomas (Margaret); two grandchildren, (Ellie and Henry); sister Judith E. Thomas (James Adovasio); sister Diane F. Churchman (Harvey Churchman III); sister-in-law Betty J. Ehlert; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, (Ross J. Thomas, Jr.); mother, (Vera Marie Powell); and grandparents, (Eva Powell, Ross J Thomas and Frieda Hull Thomas). Memorial contributions can be sent to the Navy-Marine Corp Relief Society or to Susan G Komen.