Grace Fae Toms

GRACE FAE TOMS was born to Luther and Bertha (Davis) Powers on January 24, 1915 in Grayson County, Virginia. She was raised in Whitetop, Virginia where she also attended school. Upon completion of her education, she became employed in a factory in Charlotte, North Carolina. On March 16, 1944, she entered the Women’s Army Corp and served during World War II in California. After her discharge from the service on March 5, 1946, she lived and worked in Rock Rapids, Iowa. On February 2, 1946, she was united in marriage to Russell Toms in Martinez, California. Following their marriage, they resided in Rock Rapids, Iowa. In 1947, they moved to Luverne, Minnesota where Grace worked as a Nursing Assistant at the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center. Russell preceded her in death on July 28, 1971. Following his death, Grace continued to work until her retirement after 25 years of service. In 2004, she moved to Buffalo, Minnesota to be close to her daughter.

On Tuesday, July 17, 2012 Grace passed away at the Parkview Care Center in Buffalo at the age of 97 years, 5 months and 23 days.

Grace was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. She enjoyed spending her time gardening, reading and homemaking.

She is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Karen Thilmony and her husband Donald of Buffalo, Minnesota; one grandson, Duane Thilmony and his wife Dawn of Savage, Minnesota; and one great-granddaugther, Graesyn Thilmony of Savage, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell; her parents, Luther and Bertha; two brothers, Rex and Harry; and two sisters, Edna and Hattie.