Thelma Isenhart

Thelma Maurine Durham Isenhart, age 83, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on February 9, 2025 at 1:20 a.m. Thelma was born the eldest daughter to the late Stanley and Maxine Durham on November 22, 1941 in Houston, Texas.

Thelma was one of a kind - she was just as beautiful inside as she was on the outside. She LOVED life and TRULY lived each day. Raising three busy kids and caring for a husband whom she cherished, she handled the pressures and responsibilities of life with grace and always with a huge smile on her face. Her marriage of 62 years was to the Love of her Life, Woody. She adored her children and grandchildren and always made whoever she was with feel like they were the most important and special person in her life. That is a true talent but that was her ever-giving spirit. Even her pets felt loved and special. Her family routinely joked that they wanted to come back as her dog.

Thelma was courageous and took on life’s challenges with gusto. She was a 25 year breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed in 2000, underwent a double mastectomy, extensive chemotherapy/radiation and came out VICTORIOUSLY on the other side. She was a huge breast cancer survivor proponent and always counseled with women who had been newly diagnosed with this awful disease to help them through their initial shock and difficult time. She spent her energies volunteering for the Surviving and Thriving luncheon and as a member of the Pink Alliance organization within the Bryan/College Station area.

She was also a lifetime learner. She met her “love” Woody at Sam Houston State University in 1960; they married in 1962 but never finished their degrees. After raising their children in Tomball, Texas, they decided to go back to school when they were 50 years old to finish their undergraduate degrees at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. They chose this fine university because of what it stood for…Honesty. Excellence. Integrity. Selfless Service. Respect. Leadership. Loyalty. She displayed these important characteristics everyday in her own life. Thelma graduated with a political science degree and was in the Class of ‘93. WHOOP. Thelma and Woody were awarded the prestigious “Parents of the Year” designation at Texas A&M in 1992. They were humbled and overwhelmed by this honorable consideration.

She was a “stay at home” Mom for most of her life. But after her college graduation at age 53, she was blessed and fortunate to get a job with the Texas A&M University System working in the prestigious Board of Regents office. She absolutely loved working at “The Board” - it wasn’t just a job to her. The staff at the Board office was her 2nd family and she loved visiting with the dignitaries and guests of the Board when they were in town. She treated the student workers like her own children and helped a ton of Aggies get through school while she was in that role. It was an Honor for her to serve as a steward of Texas A&M and the great State of Texas.

Thelma was a hobbyist and always involved in keeping her mind sharp and body busy. She was extremely talented - she loved to make beautiful porcelain dolls and ceramics in her kiln and became highly skilled at painting beautiful nature scenes on canvases with oil paints. Being a 5th generation Texan, she loved to paint fields of bluebonnets and good ole rustic Texas scenes with windmills and hills found in the rugged Big Bend area of Texas. She made sure to exercise every day and was an avid tennis player. She loved to garden and be outside. She LOVED her antique roses. She danced every dance at weddings and learned to play the piano at age 55 - can you say ROCKSTAR? She was a true “renaissance” woman in every sense of the word.

Most importantly, she loved and served the LORD with gladness and singleness of heart. She was a “cradle Episcopalian”, always volunteering to help any church in which she was a member. In the later years of her life, she loved going to St. Thomas Episcopal Church in College Station, Texas and enjoyed cooking breakfast, alongside Woody and others, on Sunday morning for the parishioners. She was a BELIEVER by her Faith (not by sight) and had no doubt where she was going in the afterlife. Heaven gained an extraordinary angel and her family knows that she is dancing with Jesus as we speak.

Thelma is preceded in death by her parents, Stanley “Bud” Durham and Maxine Duke Durham; and beautiful great-granddaughter, Ella Isenhart.

Thelma is survived by her loving husband, William Woodrow (Woody) Isenhart of College Station, Texas; son, Joe Isenhart and wife Stacey of San Antonio, Texas; son Brad Isenhart and wife Dana of Iola, Texas; Daughter Mary Beth (Isenhart) Henthorne and husband Neil of Iola, Texas. 7 grandchildren whom she adored (and respective spouses): Tyler Isenhart, Sam Isenhart (and wife, Holly), Braden Isenhart, Abby Isenhart Rylands (and husband, Chip) Emma Isenhart, Hunter Isenhart, and Sophie Isenhart; brother, Stanley Durham of Canyon Lake, Texas and his daughter Patricia (and husband Connor); cousin Marilyn Winneford of Houston, Texas; and David, Eric and Andrew, her nephews. She also leaves many other family and friends who will sadly miss her.

A celebration of Thelma’s Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 8th at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, In College Station. (906 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840) with a light reception following the service.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the Pink Alliance Organization, P.O. Box 6373, Bryan, Texas 77805-6373. She would love to continue to help Breast Cancer Survivors - Survive and Thrive.

Although Thelma’s physical presence may no longer grace our lives, her spirit will continue to inspire and uplift us. May her memory be a blessing, and may we carry forth her legacy of love and compassion in all that we do. As you continue to dance with Jesus, sweet Thelma, please know that your light will forever shine brightly in our hearts.