Florence Ruland Thackston

Mrs. Florence “Flo” Thackston was lifted by the angels to her heavenly home on September 24, 2025 at the age of 93. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland on November 7, 1931. She resided at her home on Round Hill Rd, Frederick from 1968 to 2019, and later at Somerford House in Frederick. Flo was the wife of Dr. Alfred Thackston Jr., Associate Superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools, who predeceased her in death on May 23, 2007.

Flo received her undergraduate degree from Towson University with a major in Elementary Education. Her graduate work in Special Education was completed at Western Maryland College. Her teaching career spanned 25 years in three Maryland counties: Frederick, Worcester, and Baltimore. She served as a demonstration teacher for all three counties. Flo was affiliated with Goucher College, Hood College, Mt. St. Mary’s College, Towson University and Frostburg College for the purpose of training undergraduate students in Elementary Education 2nd Special Education. In Worcester County she spearheaded the program for individual instruction through carefully designed Learning Stations. Educators came from in state and out of state to see this program operate. In Frederick County, Flo was charged with rewriting the Elementary Language Arts program and guiding teachers in implementing it.

Upon retiring from teaching in 1987, she joined the Green-Walled Garden Club. Over the years, she served as president and vice-president. She presented programs in civic beautification, and was directly responsible for the landscaping of Heather Ridge School and the Bell Tower in downtown Frederick.

Flo was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1970 to 2025. She organized the Garden Angels in 1996 encouraging members to design and plant eighteen gardens from Church Street to 2nd Street. Over a period of 21 years, she was a council member, greeter, usher, and Mutual Minister. She co-chaired the committee to create the prayer room in the Rupp House.

Her skill in sewing led her to designing and making drapes for campus buildings, slip covers for the Trevor Center and donating quilts to be sold at the Christmas Church Market. Flo was a member of Ruth’s Circle until health issues emerged. She was an active member in the Kingdom Weekend Retreat. Philippians 4:13 was her biblical mantra, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”.

Flo was a former member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Retired Teachers Assoc. and the FMH Hospital Auxiliary. As a member of Landmarks, she researched and recorded the history of Schifferstadt Architectural Museum.

Flo and her husband enjoyed many years of travel through Europe, British Isles, Canada, Ireland and 47 of the USA states.

Gardening, sewing and reading were her favorite activities. She could also be found at the bridge table, on the golf course and on the tennis courts. Flo will be remembered for her gentle ways, and her patience, kindness, love, intelligence, humility, and faith. God gave her a joy filled life.

Family was her number one priority. She had a deep and abiding love for each of them. They were gifts from God she cherished her whole life. She found joy in watching them grow and find their place in life.

Flo is survived by her son Mike and wife Debbie, son Lou and wife Natalie, daughter Pam, granddaughters Jennifer Kendro and husband Kevin, and Julie Scherer and husband Rob. She was also blessed by four great grandchildren Kaiden, Kamden, Karson Kendro, and Atlas Scherer. She was proceeded in death by her parents Louis J. and Florence S. Ruland.

We would also like to give a special thanks to the caregivers and other staff at Somerford House who made Flo feel so loved and welcome. She truly enjoyed the last six years of life in her patio garden apartment at Somerford House where she could enjoy her gardens.

The family will receive friends from 5PM to 8PM on Thursday October 16, 2025 at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home 106 E Church St. Frederick MD 21701. Interment will be private, at a later date, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church Columbarium.

Donations may be made to the Garden Fund, Evangelical Lutheran Church, 35 E. Church St. Frederick MD 21701 in memory of Garden Angel Flo Thackston. Or, a donation of your choice to someone in need to brighten their day, in memory of Garden Angel, Flo Thackston.