Ms. Ella Gene Thomas

Ms. Ella Gene Thomas, age 80, of Rio Vista, California passed away on Sunday, April 3, 2022. Ms. Ella was born on August 16, 1941, in Dallas, TX, to the proud parents of Charles and Opal Lee Blackwell. At the age of three, Ella became a California resident and was later blessed with two siblings, Rufus "Jr." Shaw and Eleanor Ayana Shaw.

Ella attended Richmond public schools and graduated from Samuel Gompers Career and Technical High School. Before graduating, she married the love of her life, Elbert Thomas, and from this union four children were born. Through persistence and tenacity, she accomplished her educational goals while rearing her children and being a dutiful wife. She received her Associate of Arts Degree from Contra Costa College in 1971.

Before beginning her professional career as a Mental Health Supervisor, serving the Contra Costa County community, Ella worked summers at Del Monte Cannery. Later she and her husband became foster parents in Contra Costa County, parenting children of all ages and ethnicities. They treated every child who lived with them, as their own with loving care. For many years, many of the children they fostered continued to visit and reach out to Ella and Elbert to show love.

Ella accepted Christ at an early age. Besides her God, her family was everything to her. She made sure her children were always exploring and discovering. When her children were young, she and Elbert took them exploring every Sunday. They often went to local beaches, zoos, and community events. Most family get-a-ways were summer camping trips and winter trips to the snow. Two of the most memorable family vacations were trips to World's Fair held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and visits to Tijuana, Mexico where their children experienced their first international travels. Crossing southern and northern borders.

As grandparents and foster parents, Ella and Elbert's enthusiasm for exploration never waned. They took their grand and foster children on many trips including the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, Yellow Stone National Park, Grand Canyon, Tenessee, and Alabama to see historical sites.

Ella and Elbert loved getting away to enjoy time with each other. From trips to Hawaii, cruising to Alaska, Caribbean Islands, and traveling all around the United States with the "Good Time Rollers" their motor home club.

Tithing was of the utmost importance to Ella, and she was a cheerful giver. For years she gave to many charities and non-profit organizations, as well as, her beloved Sojourner Truth Church and numerous others.

She loved life, dancing, singing, playing cards, dominoes, and board games like Sequence. She especially enjoyed music and her favorite artist was Aretha Franklin. Above all else, she put God first!

A public viewing for Ms. Ella will be held Thursday, May 5, 2022, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Fuller Funerals, Inc, 3100 Cutting Blvd, Richmond, CA 94804. A Commemoration of her life will occur on Friday, May 6, 2022, at 11:00 AM at Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church, 2621 Shane Dr, Richmond, CA 94806.