Thelma Hollinger

THELMA IRENE HOLLINGER

Thelma was born over a century ago on December 15, 1914, in Spring Hill, Kansas to Ernest E. and Lulu M. Ross, and slipped away on January 16, 2016 from her residence at Good Samaritan Center, to be welcomed into the eternal community of her God.

Growing up, she was a helper with outside farm chores and rode her horse to school. She was graduated from Stilwell High School in 1931, and married Harold G. Hollinger in 1935. They were joined by a son, Charles M. ("Chuck") Hollinger, in 1936. She was a homemaker and milked the family cow kept in the pasture behind the house on South Chestnut Street in Olathe. Her fresh cottage cheese and chocolate cakes were well appreciated by her family and friends. In the 1950's, she worked at Jetmore Togs on the north side of the square in Olathe, doing commercial machine embroidery and turning out hundreds of toddler garments decorated with tiny ducks and sailboats. When the company closed, she bought her machine and took it home to decorate linens and all manner of garments and household articles with monograms and other beautiful designs.

Chuck grew taller than either of his parents and excelled in basketball. Thelma and Harold were devoted to attendance at his games at Olathe High School and in the surrounding towns of the East Kansas League. Grandson Jeffrey J. Hollinger, was added to the family group in 1960, and Thelma was an avid fan at Chuck's college games, and at Jeff's baseball contests. She also plied her sewing skills in Chuck's business producing chenille letters and team mascot images for jackets and sweaters, retiring at age 91. She also worked at Patrons Insurance in Olathe for many years, rising to the level of Vice President.

She served for many years on the Johnson County Old Settlers committee, conducting the annual Registration to record the presence of individuals who had lived in Johnson County for at least 45 years. She was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church in Olathe and a lifelong Democrat. She was predeceased by her parents; her spouse, Harold; her son, Chuck; her sisters, Virginia Anderson and Erma Hays Reed; her brothers, Finis, Marvin and Wayne. She is survived by her grandson, Jeffrey J. Hollinger and his two children, Joshua D. Hollinger and Abigail R. Hollinger, all of Eudora, Kansas, as well as many cousins, nephews and nieces linked to the Ross and Turner grandparents who settled this area before the Civil War.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Grace United Methodist Church, 11485 Ridgeview Road, Olathe, KS 66061.