Bertiann Thomas
Bertiann Thomas, 80, of Butler passed away Wednesday at Butler Memorial Hospital.
She was born Aug. 16, 1937, in Butler. Bertiann's biological father, Arthur Fohl, passed away two months before her birth. She was raised by her late parents, Boyd Elmer “Ike” Smith and Mary Jayne (McCool) Smith.
She had a lifelong love of music that began in grade school when she sang, “Cruising Down the River,” in her cardboard canoe with her best friend, Sally Dixon (Moore). In high school, she played the violin and sang in the minstrel show. She then went on to sing and act in many performances with the Musical Theatre Guild and for the last 19 years, along side her sister, Kandy, sang in the ACTS (Adoring Christ Through Song) choir. Kandy had the rhythm and Bertiann had “the voice.” She also really enjoyed the Butler Symphony.
She wasn't a world traveler, but saw many places and interesting events, which included living in Cyprus and Saigon, Vietnam while her husband, Norman, was in the U.S. Government Service. Coming home from their last assignment in 1959, they landed in Hawaii, the day it became the 50th state. A little brush with fame was in Hong Kong, where they met and had dinner with Frank Sinatra.
Bertiann was a strong supporter of the Arc of Butler County. She had worked as a receptionist for Dr. Al Gordon Walters and Dr. Ernest Moore. Anybody who came in contact with her was blessed. She was always a giver and never expected anything in return.
Surviving are two sons, John (Lorelei) Pringle of Louisville, Ky., and Kevin (Miriam) Pringle of Charlotte, N.C.; her daughter, Kathleen Pringle of Slippery Rock; two sisters, Kandace Smith Singer of Butler, and Juanita (Jim) Lott of Dawsonville, Ga.; a stepdaughter, Lorri (Larry) Daniels and their family, of Butler; her two grandchildren, Liza and Thom Pringle; and one great-grandson, Jordan Pringle. She is also survived by the children of her deceased cousin Ed Hilliard, Jean, Joseph and Becky Hilliard.
In addition to her biological father and her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Norman Pringle; her second husband, Nikolas Thomas; two brothers; her son, Bradford Pringle; and her cousin, Ed Hilliard and his son, Raymond.
THOMAS — A private family memorial service was held for Bertiann Thomas, who died Wednesday, April 25, 2018. A public memorial service will be announced later.Private burial will be in Greenlawn Burial Estates.Arrangements were entrusted to Young Funeral Home of Butler.In lieu of flowers, donations in Bertiann's memory may be made to the Arc of Butler County, 112 Hollywood Drive, Suite 202, Butler, PA 16001.For more information, go to www.youngfuneralhomes.com.
