Thelma E. Harleman

Thelma E. Harleman

Age 86, of Cincinnati, passed away Tuesday, November 8, 2016.

Thelma was born May 7, 1930 in Enoree, South Carolina to the late Roy G. & Annie Mae (Williams) Simmons. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Robert Harleman, in 2009; brothers James, J.D., Ralph, Carl, Henry, Roy Jr., and Toy Simmons and a sister, Esther Simmons.

Thelma was known for her extraordinary talent in the kitchen and she enjoyed making new dishes she came to love through her travels as an Air Force wife. She was an expert gardener of vegetables and flowers. In her youth, she could throw a mean curve ball, and she could run as fast as the wind. She had a fast wit and she never met a stranger. She worked as a loving caregiver in nursing homes in Vandalia, OH for over 18 years.

Thelma is survived by six children, Sandra Woodward-Deen, Billy Woodward, Freddie Woodward, Heather Harleman-Manis (Steve), Kandy Hundley (Bob) & Scott Harleman (Melinda); grandchildren, Kimberly Deen Flynn, Rebecca Deen Shea, Tammy Woodward Squires, Kerri Woodward, Melissa Woodward Calloway, Erica Beane Ashley, Courtney Beane, Melina Woodward, Fredrick Woodward, William Woodward, Haley Manis, Michael Manis, eight great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday (11/12) at Morton & Whetstone Funeral Home, 139 S. Dixie Dr., Vandalia, OH 45377. Rev. George Reed will officiate. Interment will follow at Polk Grove Cemetery. The family will be receiving friends from 10:00 a.m. until time of service.

The family would like to express how grateful they are for the kindness and care shown to our mother and to us by the staff at Mercy Anderson Hospital, in particular, the ICU, Chaplains, and the Medical Surgical Oncology Unit.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in memory of Thelma to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. June Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (Please reference source code: IIQ160788777).