Thelma Bales

Thelma Bales, 85, a 60 year resident of the Peninsula, died October 26, 2009 in Long Beach. Born in Crane, Missouri on July 29, 1924, she was the daughter of Roy and Iva Whitten. At age 5 she moved with her family to St. Joseph, Missouri where she received her education and graduated from high school. Following graduation from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri she taught fifth and sixth grades at Dearborn, Missouri, worked for the Sewell Paint Co. in St. Joseph and Bank of America in Los Angeles, California. She and Elmer Bales were married December 31, 1949 in Long Beach, having met her husband while visiting relatives on the Peninsula. Thelma became a wife, mother and homemaker and active member in what was to become the Ocean Beach Presbyterian Church. Over the years Thelma taught Sunday school, served as Sunday school superintendent, member of the Pioneer Circle and member of the Presbyterian Church Women. In past years she was a member of Klipsan Council No. 46 of Pocahontas. With her family grown, Thelma returned to the workforce. She was bookkeeper for Peninsula Sanitation and for many years was secretary at Long Beach elementary school. Later she operated a day care out of her Long Beach residence. Thelma raised her nieces Wendy and Vivian through high school, they having been left motherless due to an automobile accident. Thelma enjoyed reading, was a master of crossword puzzles and was a skilled seamstress who was known for making and restoring dolls. In later years she dotted over her grandchildren. Thelma always had a kind word and lived the adage: "if you can't say something good; don't say it". Thelma is survived by her daughter Debbie (Ed) Phelps of Long Beach; son Stephen (Lynn) Bales of Oregon City, OR; brother Clarence Whitten of Cottage Grove, OR; sisters Emile Burton of St. Joseph, MO, Rae Hooker of Lee, Florida, and Vivian Parker of Savannah, MO; step-brothers Bob and Leroy Jacobs; grandchildren Tasha (Mike) Monohon, Kip (Maggie) Hansen and Bob (Pam) Hansen; great-grandchildren Ashlyn and Hayden Mohohon and Alexander, Victoria and Elizabeth Hansen. Thelma was preceded in death by her husband Elmer in 1974 and her brother Roy Whitten. A funeral service was held Monday, November 2, 2009, 11:00 AM at Ocean Beach Presbyterian Church in Seaview with concluding graveside rites at Ilwaco Cemetery. A reception followed at the church. Memorials may be made to either the Ocean Beach Presbyterian Church or the local organization of ones choice. Her guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.