Thelma Elizabeth Smith

Thelma Elizabeth Smith passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 13, 2023, in her Bryan home, surrounded by her family. Thelma was born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma on September 19, 1932, to Gladys Loretta (Ward) Fairless and Henry Eugene Fairless. She grew up on a farm just outside of Tonkawa. She met a boy named Olin Dail Smith in church, and they both attended Tonkawa public schools. A few months after Thelma graduated from high school, she and Olin married on September 5, 1950. While Olin worked on his father’s farm, he also began attending college – first at Northern Oklahoma College, and then at Oklahoma State University. Thelma supported him by working at a soda fountain in the local drug store, and later at the OSU Library in Stillwater (where she and Olin lived in married student housing). They also started a family, with Brenda, Brent, and Beth all being born during this period. Olin completed his PhD at the University of Minnesota, with Thelma managing the household, and also serving as his clerk/typist, faithfully typing out every version of his dissertation on a manual typewriter.

Related Keywords

Port Moresby ,National Capital ,Papua New Guinea ,United States ,Oklahoma State University ,Oklahoma ,Denver ,Colorado ,San Marcos ,Texas ,Tonkawa ,First Baptist Church ,Southern Hills Baptist Church ,Hickory Ridge ,Fort Sill ,Oklahoma City ,Stillwater ,America ,Danny Jay ,Esther Sims ,Henry Eugene Fairless ,Darlene Mcbride ,Thelma Elizabeth Smith ,Kayleigh Damphousse ,Olin Dail Smith ,Kristen Howell Aaron ,Mark Smith Annabelle ,Beth Damphousse Kelly ,Brent Smith Kelly ,Brenda Jay ,Dorothy Thomas ,Ernest Fairless ,Library In Stillwater ,First Baptist Church Bryan ,Us Army Captain Kyle Smith Ellie ,Texas Aggie Federal Credit Union ,Financial Aid Office ,Northern Oklahoma College ,Texasam University ,Young Married Adults Sunday School Department ,University Of Minnesota ,Gladys Loretta ,Henry Eugene ,Oklahoma State ,South America ,Said Office ,Texas Aggie Federal Credit ,Young Married Adults Sunday School ,Smith Family Christmas ,Lucille Poppy ,Beth Damphousse ,Kelly Boy ,Brent Smith ,Kelly Girl ,Monica Deal ,Melanie Ward ,College Station ,Mark Smith ,Captain Kyle Smith ,Kristen Howell ,Bridge Circle ,Funeral Home ,