Barbara "Bobbie" Thumm

Barbara “Bobbie” Jean Thumm (Anderson), 93, of Lakewood Ranch, Florida, formerly of Plymouth, Michigan, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2026, in Brentwood, Tennessee, surrounded by loved ones. Born April 23, 1933, in Ashland, Kentucky, to Howard and Vivian (White) Anderson, Bobbie was living with her daughter, Rebecca “Becky” Drennan, and family in Tennessee at the time of her passing. Bobbie spent her early years in Ashland, Kentucky, and on her maternal grandparents’ farm in Ohio. Her family was very close, and she grew up with a deep sense of family roots. During the war effort, her father relocated the family to Michigan to provide a better life. They lived in the historic Willow Run Village, where she rode her bike, affectionately named Betsy, along the dusty roads. In school, she loved playing softball and was a gifted artist. She also discovered a talent for the stage, making a name for herself by performing monologues. After high school, she worked as an executive secretary at Ford Motor Company while taking classes at Wayne State University. She loved eating lunch every day with her daddy, who also worked at Ford. She later worked at Good Housekeeping in downtown Detroit, where she enjoyed being near the big-city department stores. After meeting the love of her life, Elmo Thumm, at a dance, Bobbie became a dedicated homemaker. Together, they raised their family in Plymouth, Michigan, and shared a full and joyful life. They were avid golfers who forged lifelong friendships on the fairways and were known as excellent partners on the dance floor. For many years, they also enjoyed winter bowling leagues and book clubs, where they liked sharing different perspectives. Over the years, they traveled the world together, creating many cherished memories. Each morning they sat side by side, independently working the New York Times crossword puzzle and reading the funnies; Bobbie with her hot tea, Elmo with his coffee. In retirement, they moved to Florida, where they continued to enjoy an active life. Forever a child at heart, Grandma Bobbie delighted in her grandchildren. She wrote scripts for the kids to perform, then let them raid her closet for dress-up clothes, hats, and shoes. On other days, she would organize lively fashion shows. She loved nature, especially birdwatching, and shared adventures to the Sarasota Children’s Garden, the beach, putt-putt, Jungle Gardens, and occasionally Disney and the zoo. A cherished family tradition was waking up in the wee hours to watch the sunrise from the Anna Maria Island Pier, followed by treats at The Donut Experiment. She made the ordinary extraordinary and brought life to every family gathering. Bobbie loved tomatoes and would eat them like apples with a little salt; a family meal was not complete without a bowl of cherry tomatoes on the table. Her family affectionately called her the Tomato Queen. Above all, she knew how to love her family and friends well. She lived for others, never thinking of herself, and was always filling someone else’s cup. She effortlessly knew how to make everyone she met feel seen and loved. Her warmth and generosity left a lasting imprint on everyone who knew her. Bobbie was preceded in death by her husband, Elmo Thumm; her parents, Howard and Vivian (White) Anderson; and her three brothers, William “Bill” Anderson, Kenneth Anderson, and James Anderson. She is survived by her two children, Jon Thumm (Marla) and Becky Drennan (Gerald); four grandchildren, Karenna Cox, Nathan Cox, Rachel Cox, and Viviana Thumm; six stepchildren, Debra Miller (William), Robert Thumm (Frankie), Carol Thumm, Leslie Thumm, Susan Venegas (Moses), and Richard Thumm; six step-grandchildren, Robert Thumm (Cathy), Shannon Clark, Brian Clark (Dana), Heather Haely (Nicholas Tottis), Jennifer Haely, and Erin Venegas; and one step-great-grandchild, Fiona Clark. She also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. We warmly invite all who knew Bobbie, or who wish to honor her beautiful life, to join us for a funeral service at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota, FL 34241, on August 24, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. A celebration of life will follow at 8007 19th Avenue Drive West, Bradenton, FL 34209.

Barbara "Bobbie" Thumm

April 23, 1933 - August 11, 2026