Margaret "Margie" Miller Thomas

Margaret “Margie” Miller Thomas, age 79, passed away peacefully at her home on March 23, 2021 in the presence of her family. Born in Philadelphia, PA on March 18, 1942 to parents Ralph and Carol Miller, Margie was raised in Pittsburgh, and was a proud graduate of The Ohio State University with a B.A. in Fine Arts and member of Pi Beta Phi. She married her husband John in 1965. She was an art director in advertising in both Burlington, VT and Columbus, OH. She always laughed that her first assignment involved a full-page ad for the state of Vermont in the New York Times.

Ft. Wayne became her home where she raised her two children, Megan and Brett, and became an active member in the community. Art was especially important, and she was a member of the Designer Craftsman Guild and Ft. Wayne Museum of Art where she procured pieces for the museum shop. As a board member of the Community Harvest Food Bank, she chaired the annual fundraiser, a food festival involving many of the chefs in the community.

Margie loved art of all kinds: collecting fine crafts for their home and visiting art fairs and museums. While traveling over six continents, she had an amazing eye and brought home beautiful treasures. Margie was a constant “creator”. She loved cooking and rarely made the same thing twice. She created masterful gourmet meals that she shared with friends and family. She was a gracious host and loved entertaining. Her bridal showers and holiday parties were only outdone by the next one she hosted, from the flowers to the food to the table settings, they were epic. To her, life was a “party”. Her everchanging garden was another source for her creative spirit. Each year she meticulously planned, planted, and nurtured this place of beauty which she treasured and loved sharing with others. Margie loved to travel and created trips not only, to see beautiful places but also to make memories with friends and family across the country. Margie was kind, compassionate and generous. However, she may be most remembered for her infectious personality that brought humor, fun, laughter, and joy to all that she met. Above all she cherished her family, embraced life, and lived it to the fullest.

Quotes from her friends have characterized her as: “a lady, who is classy, sassy, happy and one of a kind”; “my best friend”; “a force of nature”; “a beautiful lady inside and out”; “an absolute treasure”.

She is survived by her husband, John R. Thomas M.D.; her children, Megan (Rick) Evans, and Brett (Kate) Thomas; her grandchildren who called her “Marmi”, Erin and Grace Evans, Teagan and Berkeley Thomas, and Cameron and Andrew Fagen; her siblings, Nancy (Bob) Daily, Chuck (Linda) Miller, Janet (Jack) Adamson, and Cathy Miller.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph C. Miller, Jr. and Carol H. Miller, and her sister, Barbara Miller.

Visitation: Saturday, March 27, 2021 3:00-5:00 pm, The Bridgewater Club, 3535 E. 161st St., Carmel, IN

Committal Service: Saturday, April 10, 2021 10:30 am, Union Cemetery East, 2800 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH.   Following the Committal Service, a Celebratory Reception will be held at The Grand Event Center, Goodale Blvd, Grandview Heights, OH 43212.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Margie’s honor to The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 460 W 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210 (Ohio State University) or Community Harvest Food Bank, PO Box 10967, Ft. Wayne, IN 46855.

Bussell Family Funerals is privileged to assist the family in arrangements.