Camp Connections

BY BRIDGET MCCORMACK-FINLEY

Rosalie Th omason was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1934 but grew up an only child in the small town of Plain City, 25 miles away. She was raised by her maternal grandparents until age 9 when her grandfather died. Th omason then lived with an aunt, uncle, and grandmother on a farm until the age of 13. Her mother, Sally, had been unable to care for her daughter because of a debilitating illness that began shortly after Th omason was born and had been living in California.

In 1947, Sally borrowed money to purchase a Greyhound bus ticket to Columbus so she could bring her daughter to Los Angeles to be with her. “Th at was pretty overpowering,” Th omason said. “Just coming to Los Angeles was a huge culture shock, but I was going to be with my mother and that was worth any adjustment.”

Th omason immediately began attending Angelus Temple with her mother, a church started by an evangelist and social advocate. “Th at was the largest building I had ever been in with a main fl oor and three balconies,” she recalled. “It occurred to me that all of Plain City might fi t inside with room left over.” Soon after, she responded to an altar call, accepted Christ, and was baptized. She joined the youth choir which was led by acclaimed composer Audrey Mieir.

A few months later, an associate pastor reached out to Sally to ask if her daughter would have any interest in attending Camp Radford in the San Bernardino Mountains. Someone had donated money to sponsor a child who would otherwise not be able to aff ord to go to camp and Th omason had been selected. “We didn’t have a whole lot of money; we lived pretty frugally so there was no thought of me ever going to camp without this help,” she said.

It was during this time at camp that Th omason felt the presence of God very strongly - so much so that the feeling of it has stayed with her for nearly 72 years. Her fi rst best friend, Ruth, was also at camp. Th ey had met when they stood next to each other in choir. “I think the reason we connected was that we both lived only with our mothers. We were both tall, skinny, and altos. What else do you need to bond?” Rosalie recalled with a laugh.

Rosalie Thomason, 14, shown with her mother Sally when they lived in California. Thomason’s church sponsored her to attend a week of camp and now she gives so that other children can also experience summer camp.

“Th at was the only year I attended camp, but since that experience I have been very aware of how I got to camp,” Th omason said. As an adult, she has always contributed through her church or other venues to ensure that children from fi nancially challenging situations may be able to experience summer camp. She has felt a strong connection to the Appalachian region throughout her life, and learned that she has deep familial roots in Appalachian Kentucky, West Virginia, and southern Ohio.

Sixteen years ago Th omason was inspired to partner with Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) to serve communities in Appalachia and hopes that others will also become involved with supporting CAP’s summer camp programming which provides love and compassion to those who attend.