Thelma Lennia Sandvos

Our beloved mother, Thelma (White) Sandvos was born on January 7, 1924 to parents Wofford Robert and Ethel Oveline White in Hanson, Oklahoma. She had 3 brothers and 3 sisters including her identical twin. The family worked as sharecroppers on a cotton farm. During the war years, Thelma, her parents and younger siblings relocated to Colton, Ca where after a few years, she met our father, Raymond Sandvos, who lived across the street with his parents.

Ray and Thelma began to date and then quickly fell in love. They were married on June 13, 1948. In 1951, Thelma gave birth to a daughter, Joyce Ann and in 1953 Richard Eugene joined the little family, followed quickly by David Lee 13 months later in 1955. Thelma must have been a very tired mommy with a toddler and 2 infants to handle.

In the mid 1970’s, after we siblings moved out and married, Mom and Dad enjoyed their retirement years traveling the states towing their travel trailer behind them. They had their favorite places where they would stay months at a time, sometimes joined by one of their 7 grandsons, and then move on to the next place. They eventually settled in Arkansas for 12 years before returning to California. In 2006, they relocated to Coalinga where they both loved the small town life and the rural atmosphere. They attended the First Southern Baptist Church and after our father’s death in 2007, the congregation surrounded her with love and compassion.

Our mother loved going out to eat, doing puzzles, reading and especially sewing, before her eyesight began to fail. She was a sweet, caring, loving and beautiful lady and we are so blessed that God chose her to be the most perfect mother for us.

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings, her husband Ray and her son-in-law, Gary King. She is survived by her daughter Joyce King, of Coalinga, Ca, her son, Rick and daughter-in-law, Kelly Sandvos of Applegate, Ca, her son, David and daughter-in-law, Mary Sandvos of South Lake Tahoe, Ca and by her 7 grandsons, Jason, Zack, Matt, Eli, Joel, Peter and Charlie and their wives. She also has 7 great granddaughters and 3 great grandsons.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2012 at the First Southern Baptist Church in Coalinga followed by burial in Bloomington, Ca.

Condolences may be made at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com.

Arrangements entrusted to People’s Funeral Chapel, 501 N. Douty St., Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 584-5591