Thelma Jane Thomas

Thelma Jane Thomas was born on April 29, 1921, at Dr. Poole's Hospital in Port Clinton Ohio. Her parents, Helen and George Hopfinger, lived at West Third Street. Both sides of her family were descended from early settlers in the area, and her family and its side branches gave their names to many roads in the central part of Ottawa County. Thelma graduated from Port Clinton High School in 1939. She worked at Bolte Realty and then at Camp Perry. While working at Camp Perry, she met a young U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lieutenant from Oklahoma, Jefferson Davis Thomas, working at Erie Ordnance Depot. They were married in January of 1945 and lived happily together until Jeff's death at age 94 in 2008. Survivors include her daughters: Laurie Thomas of Oak Harbor, Ohio and Georgia Thomas of Houston, Texas. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Helen and George Hopfinger; her brother, Lt. Cdr. Richard Hopfinger; her husband, Jefferson D. Thomas; her granddaughter, Maureen Thomas Murray. Her love and appreciation of nature mirrored her faith and her belief in God and she passed this strong faith onto her daughters. She believed in God, she believed in prayer, and she believed in the church. She loved St. John Lutheran Church, and took great pride in being a member of one of the founding families of the congregation. Had her health permitted, she would have attended church services, as the old-time saying has it, "every time the church bell rang." When her loving heart finally stopped beating on Tuesday February 16, 2016, a daughter of the church went home to her heavenly Father. Her grace, humor, and heart will be sorely missed by a wide network of friends and caregivers. Visitation will be held at the Neidecker, Leveck, & Crosser Funeral Home, 1124 Fulton Street, Port Clinton, Ohio on Sunday February 21, 2016 from 2 pm 4pm. On Monday February 22, 2016, additional visitation will be held from 10am until a Service of Christian burial at 11 am with Reverend Dr. James Lehman officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John Lutheran Church, Port Clinton or to the Ida Rupp Public Library in Port Clinton. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.neideckerleveckcrossr.com