Thelma D. Freeman

Thelma D. Freeman, 90, of Statesboro, Ga., formerly of Dennison, O., passed away on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at Memorial University Hospital in Savannah, Ga., following a brief illness.

Born December 25, 1917 in Dennison to the late Paul W. and Maude (Dietrich) Porter, she was a lifelong resident of the Dennison area until a little over a month ago when she moved to Georgia with her daughter, Carol. Thelma was a graduate of Dennison High School in the class of 1935 and was a member of Dennison First Presbyterian Church where she had held office as an elder.

Thelma served her community as an election worker in precinct 2 from 1958 until 2001 and as a volunteer with the Twin City Food Pantry for many years. She was also a staunch supporter of Twin City Hospital, having been a Red Cross volunteer for almost twenty-five years, including a term as president in 2002 and 2003. A former member of the Order of Eastern Star, she enjoyed spending time with her friends and loved playing cards in one of the several 500 clubs to which she belonged.

On November 19, 1939, she married John Robert Freeman with whom she enjoyed over forty-five years of marriage until his passing on March 25, 1985. Thelma was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker, who lovingly cared for her family throughout her life.

She is survived by two daughters, Carol Tripp of Statesboro, Ga. and Bonnie Cipar of Chicago, Ill.; three granddaughters, Mrs. Thomas (Crystal) Wiley of Victorville, Ca., Mrs. Rick (Carrie) Allegretti of Westmont, Ill. and Mrs. John (Heather) Minelli of Winfield, Ill.; nine great grandchildren; a brother, Paul Porter and his wife, Ruth, of Dover; a sister, Mrs. Vinda Beitzel of Dennison; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Frances Welch, and an infant brother, Earl Delmar Porter.

Services for Thelma, officiated by Rev. Carolyn Behrendt, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 4, in the R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home at Dennison. Interment will follow beside her late husband in Uhrichsville’s Union Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday. Those wishing to honor Thelma’s memory by a charitable contribution are encouraged to do so to Dennison First Presbyterian Church and the Twin City Hospital Foundation.
R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home, Inc.
(740) 922-1970
www.lindseyfh.com