Published: July 15, 2007 11:00 pm      

Diane Thomas, longtime Times WV employee dies

Diane Thomas, a Times West Virginian employee for the past 28 years, died over the weekend. She was 51 years old.

Diane had been employed in the Times West Virginian business department since being hired following her graduation from Fairmont State College.

She was an accounting assistant at the newspaper and was well-known for her dedication to her work — always staying busy.

Old-timers at the newspaper recall that she worked part time at the Times West Virginian while attending East Fairmont High School and also while attending Fairmont State College.

She had no known relatives. Her mother was a well-known Marion County softball pitcher, Sis Shriver, who starred in women’s leagues back in the 1940s and ’50s but who died of cancer when Diane was very young.

Diane was one of the biggest fans of The Monkees, a popular singing group from past years. She also loved The Beatles.

Most people probably were unaware that she enjoyed watching professional basketball on television, with her personal favorite player being Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns — the MVP of the NBA last year. An 8X10 color photograph of Nash graces her desk in the Times West Virginian business office.

Diane was a movie fan and possessed quite a collection of DVDs. She was a real fan of British comedies. She also was a fan of Charlie Brown from the “Peanuts” comic strip.

She was a lover of cats, and until recently, always had a pet cat around the house with members of her newspaper “family” recalling Mickey and Calli, both of whom have died.

Around 15 years ago, she traveled to Russia with the late Thelma Shaw for a tour of that country.

She attended Central Christian Church.

Ford Funeral Home, 201 Columbia St., Fairmont, is in charge of arrangements.