Thelma Welch

Thelma Welch

Thelma Welch
November 29, 1921 – August 8, 2014
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 92

Thelma A. Welch, 92, of Oskaloosa, died Friday, August 8, 2014, at the Mahaska Hospice Serenity House. She was born November 29, 1921 at Hartley, Iowa, the daughter of Carl and Winnie Viola Deatherage Hols.

Thelma graduated from the Oskaloosa High School with the class of 1939. On June 7, 1942, Thelma was united in marriage to James H. Welch at Lancaster, Missouri, and he died August 16, 1981.

Early in her adult life, Thelma worked in a candy store in Oskaloosa as a clerk and later at the overall factory. Lastly, she was the personnel manager at the Kresge/Jupiter/K-Mart stores in Oskaloosa for many years, retiring in the early 1980’s. She was a member of the Central United Methodist Church, Kings Daughters and Mahaska Hospital Auxilary. She worked in the snack bar at the hospital for many years and was very active with T.O.P.S. organization, locally and statewide.

Thelma enjoyed reading, crochet handiwork, cooking and watching cooking shows on television.

Her family includes her son and his wife, Larry and Janice Welch of Afton, Iowa; a daughter, Vicky Woods of Treynor, Iowa; five grandchildren: Jeffrey and Nicholas Welch, Rebecca Nusbaum, and Jason and Cory Woods; and 13 great grandchildren.

Besides her husband, Thelma was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Jack Lee Welch; a granddaughter, Kim Liermann; a great granddaughter, Kristin Welch; four brothers: Jacob, Gilbert, Roscoe, and William Hols; and two sisters: Clarissa Grandia and Myra Dunn.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 13, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with Pastor Bruce Wittern officiating.
Burial will follow the White Oak Cemetery, east of Oskaloosa.
Visitation will begin at the funeral chapel on Tuesday after 11 a.m., and the family will be present Tuesday from 5–7 p.m. to greet friends and relatives.
Memorials may be designated to the Mahaska Hospice Serenity House.