Helen Ruth Thomas, 93, of Severna Park, Maryland passed away on February 16, 2018.  She was born on July 11, 1924 in Union, South Carolina to Harold Hope Brakefield and Alice Woods Brakefield.  Helen attended Union High School, and while living in Union worked at Roses Dime Store.

Helen moved from South Carolina to the Washington DC area during World War II, and worked in the Engineering and Research Corporation (ERCO) factory in Riverdale Maryland machining machine gun turrets for the United States war effort.  After the war she met and married Clinton "Tommy" Eaton Thomas, Jr. in 1946.  They were married until Tommy's death on May 21, 1991.  Helen never remarried.

Helen worked for most of her career at the University of Maryland, College Park Campus.  Beginning in the data processing department, Helen was promoted to the Accounts Payable Department, where she finished her professional career as the Department Supervisor.  Helen was a long-time member of the Berwyn Baptist Church, serving as a Deaconess there.  After moving to Bowie, Helen attended Belair Baptist Church.  Helen performed public-service and charity work through her membership in The Order of the Eastern Star, and The College Park Women's Club.

Helen is survived by:

• Her four children: daughter, Barbara Zietz, and by three sons, Cary Thomas, Wayne Thomas and Charles Thomas;
• Her eleven grandchildren: Lori Temple Austin, Kendall Temple, Christopher Scott Thomas, Lynn Hope McCauslin, Wayne Thomas Jr., Christine Thomas, Michael Thomas, Gerald J. Ward, Carrie Alexander, Mary Thomas, and Canon Thomas;
• Her 26 Great grandchildren: Tirza Rachel Austin, Lydia Amaris Austin, Abigail Avyia Austin, Berith Deborah Austin, Joshua Mark Temple, Jaime Lee Temple, Matthew John Temple, Sara Marie Temple, Zoe Anais Thomas Mullen, Nicolas Jackson Mullen, Devon Halvorson, Madison Halvorson, Cavan Halvorson, Aidan Hausner, Christopher S. Thomas, Jr., Corine S. Thomas, Mary Kathryn Mahon, Matthew Smallwood, Sarah Smallwood, Amy Smallwood, Lilliana Thomas, Pearce Thomas, Carter Thomas, Ciera Simpson, Evan Simpson, Olivia Simpson;
• Her ten great-great grandchildren: Pearl Lydia Austin, Avery Elizabeth Temple, Audrey Ellen Temple, Eli Mark Temple, Carter James Ownby, Sophia Marie Temple, Trinity Mahon, Aurora Mahon, Lucas Smallwood, and Colton Smallwood; and
• Her sister, Martha Jane Brakefield Humphries of Columbia, South Carolina

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Tommy, two brothers, James Harold Brakefield, and Neal Brakefield, two sisters Margarett Brakefield Eaton and Barbara Vernon Baker, one granddaughter Angela Thomas, and one great granddaughter Elizabeth Smallwood.