Thelma May Shipley Thimmig Styles

Thelma May Shipley Thimmig Styles of Russellville went to meet her heavenly Father on May 5, 2007 after 85 years, 2 months, and 5 days on this side of life. She was known as Thelma to her friends and Mama to her daughters. She was born on February 27, 1922, the eighth and last child to Earl Harrison Shipley and Luvia Leota Davis Shipley Doren. Thelma was a descendant of the American Revolution. She prevailed in demonstrating the same strong patriotism as her forefathers who fought valiantly for this Nation during the Revolutionary War and who fought on both the North and the South sides during the War between the States. Thelma also came from a strong pioneering heritage; her forefathers were tillers of the soil. Throughout her life, Thelma demonstrated citizenship by working hard (even with only an 8th grade education), by voting, and being a law-abiding member of the community. Thelma was the granddaughter on her mother's side of William Anderson & Mary Jane Wilson Davis of Pattonsburg, Missouri, and the great granddaughter of the Ellis' of Monroe County, Virginia. On her father's side, she was the granddaughter of William Brumbley & Frances Amelia Wilson Shipley of Missouri. Amelia's family arrived in Washington County, PA from Holland in 1770. This part of the family tree claims to be descendants of the blue-eyed Cherokee of Georgia. Thelma lived an exciting life, from traveling by horseback, and horse and buggy, then by automobile. She saw man go to the Moon and into outer space. She lived in Kansas City, Kansas, Casper, Wyoming, Hampton, Virginia, and Lompoc, California where she retired from Safeway. Thelma also lived in Morrison, Colorado and finally Russellville, Arkansas at the time of her death. Thelma was a member of The Sanctuary Church of God in Russellville, Arkansas. Thelma was reared and educated in Kansas City, Missouri. On 11 May 1940, she married Charles Joseph Thimmig in a candle light wedding at the Church of the Nazarene in Mills, Wyoming. She gave birth to her first daughter, Bonnie May Thimmig, in Sept. 1941 in Kansas City, Missouri. Her husband preceded her in death during WW II at the invasion of Normandy in Southern France on 19 Aug. 1944. On 3 Jan. 1945, Thelma was remarried in Fort Worth, Texas by a Justice of the Peace to Carl Melburn Styles, a WW II veteran who served as a crew member of the Flying Tigers. Carl had been shot down over Burma, China before returning state side. Their second daughter, Patricia Kay Styles, was born Oct. 1945 in Hampton, Virginia. In June 1955, their third daughter, Kathryn Lynn Styles, was born in Hampton, Virginia. Thelma and the family moved to Lompoc, California in 1964. On 25 Feb. 1970, she was preceded in death by her second husband. In addition to her two husbands, she was preceded in death by her brother Lyle Brumley in Nov. 1908, sister Nora Leota in Mar. 1927, sister Bonnie Maxine in Oct. 1934, sister Francis Lee in Aug. 1976, brother Fern Harrison in Mar. 1982, sister Edna "Um" Juanita in Jan. 1991, and brother Victor Irwin in Aug. 1991. Thelma was also preceded by her father Earl Harrison Shipley in June 1955 and mother Luvia Leota Davis Shipley Davis in Nov. 1950. Thelma is survived by daughter Bonnie May Thimmig Rudolph & son-in-law Richard Earl Rudolph of Arkansas; daughter Patricia Kay Styles Brown Gruda & son-in-law Anthony Gruda of Colorado, and daughter Kathryn Lynn Styles Blackner of California. Survivors also include five grandchildren, Jeffery Garrison Rudoph & wife Dawn Marie Hubbell Rudolph of Texas, Kathy Patricia Rudolph De Angelo & husband Michael De Angelo of California, Steven Gregory Rudolph & wife Eileen Cole Rudolph of Vermont, Lon Brown & wife Melissa of Arizona, and Elizabeth Brown of California. Thelma is also survived by eight great grandchildren, Christopher Garrison, Nicholas Earl, and Autumn Lynn Rudolph of Texas, Christina Marie, Anthony Joseph and Mathew Scott De Angelo of California, Keith Richard Rudolph of Vermont, and Taylor & Tiera Brown of Arizona. The family expresses sincere appreciation to the Arkansas Hospice administrators and staff for the excellent care provided during Thelma's final weeks. The family received friends following the funeral held at the Sanctuary Church of God on May 7, 2007 at 2:00 PM. Internment was held at the Highland Park Cemetery, Kansas City, Kansas under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation, Western Arkansas Chapter, 322 North Greenwood, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901, The Sanctuary Church of God, 138 Church Street, Russellville, Arkansas 72802, or the Arkansas Hospice, 2405 East Parkway, Suite 3, Russellville, Arkansas 72802.