Aug.14, 1930—Feb. 12, 2023
Thelma Holdman, 92, of Perryton, passed away Feb. 12, 2023 after a short illness.
Thelma was the daughter of Lawrence Leonard Wildman and Kathryn Shope Wildman. She grew up on a farm east of Edmond, OK and graduated from Edmond High School in May 1948. Thelma was an only child who played with her Wildman and Shope cousins and remained friends with them throughout her life.
She married Thomas Paul Stark on May 29, 1948. Thelma and Tom lived in Oklahoma City, where Thelma attended business college and worked as a secretary. They moved quite often for Tom’s work for Beckman Inc. until settling in Perryton in 1962.
Thelma worked as a secretary for Beckman for many years and they raised their four children there. Tom retired and they enjoyed fishing and a trip to Hawaii before Tom had a massive stroke. He survived, but suffered brain damage, and Thelma cared for him until he passed away on Aug. 13, 1993.
Thelma devoted herself to hobbies that created a welcoming and peaceful home. She was an expert quilter and enjoyed learning new techniques and cultural traditions related to quilting and fabric making. She was an active charter member of the Friendship Quilt Guild in Perryton. She also attended the Liberal, KS Quilt Guild for many years, enjoying the friendship and projects of her many quilting friends. Thelma loved making patriotic Quilts of Valor and many Perryton veterans benefited from her handiwork.
Thelma was an avid gardener and cultivated a garden that bloomed in all four seasons. She was always glad to share the many varieties of colorful bearded iris she grew in her yard. She spent many hours working in her yard and grew many vegetables and fruit for canning and sharing with others. Her efforts were rooted in the values instilled by her upbringing during the Depression to live without waste.
Thelma lived a life of service. She was a 60-year member of First Baptist Church in Perryton and served in many capacities, including children’s Sunday School and Adult Sunday School. Thelma was a pink lady at Ochiltree General Hospital for many years, serving in the gift shop.
She married Jim Holdman on May 12, 1999. She enjoyed the traveling and home projects they shared until Jim became too ill to travel. She cared for him until his passing on May 6, 2016. She married Robert Graves on December 3, 2016 and cared for him until his passing in January 2022.
She spent many hours caring for all three of her husbands in their final days and she was the living embodiment of the Proverbs 31 woman: “A wife of noble character - she is worth far more than rubies.”
Thelma is survived by her four children, Margaret Aslakson, Tom Stark, Virginia Stark Vance, and Donna Reynolds (Travis). She is survived by grandchildren, Ted Stark-Vance, Denise Reynolds, Joy Stark-Smith (Kyle), Laura Durrett (Ryan), and Drew Aslakson (Jenny). Thelma is survived by her great grandchildren Zoe Scott, Zach Reynolds, Keegan Durrett, Ellery Durrett, Avery Reynolds, Greta Smith, Soren Smith, and Lincoln Aslakson, and Jim Holdman’s grandchildren, Jessica Cochran, Dustin Wright and Brian Wright, who were loved as her own. She and Jim mourned the passing of his grandson Jason Wright.
A Memorial Service for Thelma is planned at First Baptist Church Chapel in Perryton, on March 18, 2023 at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, Thelma desired that any remembrances be sent to First Baptist Church for Missions or Women’s Ministry at 415 S. Baylor St., Perryton, TX, 79070 or to the charity of your choice.
Thelma was a strong proponent of learning and education and donated her body to Texas Tech Medical School. Her ashes will be interred at Ochiltree Cemetery at a later date.
The family wishes to thank all of the staff at Senior Village who cared for Thelma so lovingly. They made her final days full of smiles and affection.