Thelma I. Stevenson

Thelma I. Stevenson beloved wife, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, sister, and devoted friend passed away on Friday, April 13, 2007. Thelma is survived by her husband, Leland, of 64 years, retired US Army Lt. Colonel. She is also survived by her daughter, Dianne; son, Michael and daughter-in-law, Joanne all of Lockhart; two grandsons, Anthony and Nick of Austin; and one sister, Betty Burton of Lockhart. Thelma was born in Lompoc, California on June 20, 1920 and moved to Texas as a young girl when her father, a Southern Pacific telegrapher, was transferred to Wallis, Texas. Thelma attended public schools in Palacios, Texas and graduated in 1937 as Valedictorian of her class. She attended Texas State College for Women in Denton, Texas now Texas Women's University. She and Leland were married on July 1, 1942 at Palacios, Texas, home at that time of Camp Hulen, Texas. She was a civil service employee at Camp Hulen and he was receiving basic training in the US Army. After WWII ended they lived in College Station, Texas while Leland completed his college degree from Texas A & M. Leland returned to active military service during the Korean War and the family traveled to many military assignments during the next 25 years. They were stationed in overseas assignments at Salzburg, Austria, Taipei, Taiwan, and Heidelberg, Germany. Also, military posts in Utah, Georgia, Virginia, California and Texas. Thelma was always the devoted military wife. When they received orders to Salzburg Austria, she and their two children had to remain in the States until housing was available. Ten months later the orders came. Thelma advertised and sold their home in Palacios, Texas, then drove the family to Brooklyn, NY for shipment to Austria, got the kids aboard the military transport ship and traveled to Leghorn, Italy. They then traveled by Italian railway to Salzburg, Austria their new home for the next three years. Thelma was devoted to her family. She also loved her church and filled many positions of leadership including Elder. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. The family will receive friends and relatives from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm on Sunday, April 15th at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. Graveside services will he held at the City of Lockhart Cemetery, Lockhart, Texas on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Robert F. Hahn of Lockhart First United Methodist Church presiding, assisted by Dr. Robert Bowen, Hyde Park Christian Church Austin, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in Thelma's name be made to the church of your choice or to Alzheimer's Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com