Rose Irene Thomas, age 90, a longtime resident of Hoquiam, died on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, Wash. Rose was born on April 15, 1927, in rural Hoquiam to Burdick Newton Johnston, II and Emily Caroline (Williams) Johnston.

She attended Newton school and then Hoquiam High School. During World War II, she worked for the Boeing Aircraft Company riveting the tail gunners section of the B-29 bomber at their 7th Street location. She later worked for Grays Harbor Chair Factory.

She was active in her children’s lives, serving as a cub scout den mother twice, Emerson School carnival chairman and a member of the PTA.

Rose was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Hoquiam where she was a member of the Session, a Sunday School teacher and Director of Christian Education.

In 1966, Rose earned an A.A. Degree from Grays Harbor College, and in 1968, a Bachelor’s degree in English and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Washington. She had Washington and California State teaching credentials with a K-12 certificate. She also did post graduate work at Southern Oregon State College in Ashland, Ore. as well as the University of Washington.

She taught first grade at McDermoth Elementary in Aberdeen, then in 1973-1974, she taught 3rd grade for Air America at the U.S. Air Force Base in Udorn, Thailand. She then returned home and taught at Bridgeport, Wash. for three years.

Rose was active in the Democratic Party. She was a precinct committee person, vice chair of the Grays Harbor Democratic Party and the State of Washington Democratic Chair for the 24th legislative district. For her work in government, she received an invitation to attend the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Surviving relatives include her husband Roy Thomas of Hoquiam; a son Leonard Watson of Hoquiam, a brother Burdick Newton Johnston, III of Cashmere, Wash.; five sisters, Dr. Emily Louise Zaidi of Sacramento, Catherine Ruth Watson of Everett, Wash., Isabelle Johnston of Sequim, Clair “Nicki” McDougall of Aberdeen and Shirley Mae Bochenski of Olympia and four grandchildren. A son, David Bruce Watson; a grandson, David Grant Watson, Md., one sister, Bernice Annette Perry and a brother Edward William Johnston died previously.

A visitation will be at the Coleman Mortuary from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 3, and 4, and on Monday, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 5, the Coleman Mortuary Chapel. A private interment will follow at Hoquiam’s Sunset Memorial Park.

Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on line register at www.colemanmortuary.net.