Margaret Maloy Thomas

Margaret Maloy Thomas, age 66, of Newark, DE passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, 12/2/2018.

Margaret was born in Bourne, MA to James E. and Kathleen A. Maloy of Le Roy, NY.  Margaret was the oldest of six children.  Margaret was a 1970 graduate of Caesar Rodney Senior High School in Camden, DE.  Her family moved to Delaware in 1964 from Le Roy, N.Y. when General Foods moved production of Jello to their new facility in Dover.  She graduated from the University of Delaware with a B.A. in Psychology (cum laude) in 1974.  After graduating from U.D., she went to work with VISTA/Action assisting the Delmarva Ecumenical Agency in providing counseling to migrant farm workers.  She then went on to work as a behavioral therapist and supervisor with the Auclair School for Autism in Bear, DE.  Margaret started her career in public education as a Special Education Teacher in the Red Clay Consolidated School District at the Conrad Intensive Learning Center in Wilmington in 1978.  When the Intensive Learning Center relocated she became a Guidance Counselor at Conrad Middle School, while there she received a Statement of Distinction from Governors Tom Carper and Ruth Ann Minner for her “Dedication in helping meet the intellectual and emotional needs of her students and their parents”.  That same year, Margaret was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year in the Red Clay School District by the Kiwanis club of Wilmington West. She was also selected as the Conrad Middle School Teacher of the Year 1985-86 (rare for a counselor) by the Red Clay Education Association.  In 1986, Margaret took a sabbatical to further her education and earn an M.Ed. (magnum cum laude) in College Counseling from U.D. in 1988.  After obtaining her Master’s Degree, she became a School Counselor at A.I. DuPont H.S. in Greenville, DE.  While at A.I. DuPont H.S. she received an award from the Delaware State Education Association for Instruction and Professional Development in 1995.  In 2004, she received an Educator of Distinction Award from the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation after being nominated by one of her students.   She retired from the Red Clay Consolidated School District in 2005 after 25 years of dedicated service to her students. 

Margaret was an avid reader and reading was one of her favorite pastimes.  She also enjoyed live music of almost any genre as long as it was good.  After retirement, she served as President of the Greenwillow Celtic Music Folk Club 2009-2016 and as a Trustee of the Wilmington Grand Opera House.  She loved the natural surroundings of her home and spending time with family and friends.

Margaret is survived by her husband of 42 years, John A. Thomas of Newark, DE;  her siblings, Coleen Thacker of Frederica, DE, James E. Maloy Jr. of Dover, Bridget Wilson of Macoutah, IL, Julie Klapp of Hartly, DE and Charles Michael Maloy of Newark, DE.  Margaret was preceded in death by her parents.  

A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Thursday,  December 13, 2018 at Gebhart Funeral Home, 531 Delaware Street, New Castle, DE  19720, where a Memorial Service will begin at 11:00 a.m.  A private interment will follow at 1:00 PM in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear, DE.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Grand Opera House of Wilmington, DE; or the American Cancer Society.

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