Thelma Woolever

Thelma Woolever, age 98 of Collegedale, Tennessee, passed away peacefully at her home on May 30, 2024 after a brief illness.

Thelma was born on January 11, 1926, in Berrien Springs, Michigan to the late Dan and Lucile Halvorsen. She only lived a few months there before her family moved to Takoma Park, Maryland. Thelma attended three grades at the church school there before the family moved back to Michigan.

Thelma attended Andrews Academy one year and Cedar Lake Academy three years. She graduated in 1944. She made friends there who were her friends for life. She was baptized during her senior year after a Week of Prayer. She enjoyed her years there with her brother Lester very much. She attended Emanuel Missionary College taking secretarial studies one year, and then after a year off, she went back to take pre-nursing one year. Then she met and married John Jackson in 1947. They gave birth to Ruth Anne in 1949 and Mary Jane in 1952.

Thelma worked for 20 years at Andrews University in the offices of three presidents, the university attorney, and Campus Safety. She retired in 1993 and moved to Zephyrhills, Florida to join her brother Lester and sister Ruby in a retirement village. She enjoyed being active during her years there - swimming, golfing, bowling, and shuffle boarding.

Thelma married Coleman Woolever in 1995 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. They lived in both Pennsylvania and Zephyrhills, Florida until 2012 when they made their home in Pennsylvania their year-round home. There they spent time with the Woolever family at their cabin on Loyalsock Creek and at the hunting camp. Coleman died in 2019 and two months later Thelma moved to Tennessee to live with her daughters Ruth and Mary Jane.

Thelma had four grandchildren (John, Jeff, Ryan and Amy) and four great grandchildren (Madelyn, Nathan, Claire and Easton). She never forgot a birthday and enjoyed many holidays with her family. Family vacations at Treasure Island, and a few fall weekends in a lodge at Claytor Lake State Park with the family, were highlights. She had fond memories of many Halvorsen Family Reunions that started in 1947. She also took two Alaska cruises and one to Canada and New England in the fall of 2023 with her daughters.

Thelma enjoyed working in the yard and her flower beds showed it. She gardened and canned and froze fruit and vegetables every year. She was a seamstress who sewed both her daughters' wedding gowns. She worked in her dad's cabinet shop and she made cabinets for several homes they lived in. In addition to her many talents and interests, she loved ice skating, tobogganing, vacationing on the Gulf of Mexico on Treasure Island, water skiing, swimming, reading, playing games, and puzzling. Those who knew her describe her as strong, amazing, classy, feisty, a great cook, and a wonderful Christian example.

Thelma is survived by two loving daughters - Ruth Fish (Milton), and Mary Jane Heilman (Randy) of Collegedale, TN. Four grandchildren - John Fish (Aimee) of Dillon, CO; Jeff Fish (Sara) of Plainfield, IL; Ryan Heilman (Carrie) of New Market, VA; and Amy Cox (Jeremy) of North East, MD. Four great grandchildren - Madelyn and Nathan Fish of Plainfield, IL; Claire and Easton Heilman of New Market, VA. A niece, Karen Gimbel (Greg) of Brunswick, ME; and nephews - Ken Halvorsen of Brunswick, ME; David Roosenberg (Rozella) of Sagle, ID; Dick Roosenberg (Terry) of Kalamazoo, MI; Tom Roosenberg of Huntsville, AK; and Tim Roosenberg (Karen) of Emmitt, ID.

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, Dan and Lucile (Ford) Halvorsen; her husband, Coleman Woolever; her sister and brother-in-law Ruby and Henry Roosenberg; and brother and sister-in-law Lester and Reva Halvorsen.

Thelma's memory will be cherished by those who knew her. A memorial service will be held at the Gospel Chapel, Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church, on Friday, June 7, at 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Great Lakes Adventist Academy, PO Box 68, Cedar Lake, MI 48812

You are encouraged to share a memory of Thelma and/or your personal condolences with her family by visiting her memorial webpage and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home of Cleveland is honored to assist her family with these arrangements.