Barbara "Bobbi" Bales

Bluefield, WV - Barbara (Bobbi) Sue Bales, 65, of Winston-Salem, NC and Bluefield, WV died February 26, 2014 at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Born May 28, 1948 in Bluefield, WV, she was the daughter of Harold R. Bales and Madolyn Sue Totten Bales. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her sister, Judith Ann Bales-Wiseman. She attended local schools in Bluefield and received her BA from Marshall University in Huntington, WV in 1970 and BSW from Livingstone College in 1980. She gave 41 years of service to the Forsyth County Department of Social Services from 1971 until 2011 as Program Manager for a wide range of programs, including Services Intake, Day Care, Adoptions, Adult Self Support, and JOBS. She then worked for Goodwill Industries until 2013 as an advisor in their Work First Employment Preparation Program. She also served on numerous community service related committees and non-profit boards including Family Services, Inc., Crisis Control Ministries, United Way of Forsyth, Community Impact Council and Goodwill Industries. Bobbi Sue was devoted to her family and friends and tirelessly cared for so many people throughout her life, and all will deeply mourn this sudden and profound loss. Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Paul C. Thomas, III of Bluefield, WV; her brothers and sisters in law - Stephen P Thomas of Bluefield, WV; Connie Thomas of Lewisburg, WV; Bruce and Gail Thomas of Stow, MA; and Caryl Beth Thomas and Jacobus van-Loon of Hyde Park, MA; step-son, Michael Shay, his wife Casi and son Carter of Winston-Salem, NC; and countless dear friends connected to her WV childhood home and her Winston-Salem community of 44 years. She did everything in her life with great passion, clear purpose and loving care. She was well known for her deep love of animals and particularly her beloved cats, her extraordinary cooking, being a voracious reader and always taking care of anyone in need. She was a most amazing woman and will be profoundly missed. A Memorial Service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Bluefield, WV on Tuesday, March 4th, 2014 at 2PM. A second service will be held in Winston-Salem in the near future. In lieu of flowers, remembrances should be sent to Mercer County Animal Shelter, 961 Shelter Road, Princeton, WV 24740 or Crisis Control Ministries, 200 E. 10th St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family and those wishing to share memories or condolence messages may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com

Barbara "Bobbi" Bales

May 28, 1948 - February 26, 2014