Thelma M. Lewis

Thelma M. Lewis, 71, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away Sunday, October 4, 2015, at Ransom Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, October 10, 2015, at the First Baptist Church. Family will meet with friends from 5:30 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., Friday, October 9, 2015, at Dengel & Son Mortuary followed by a wake service at 7:00 P.M. Interment Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas. Thelma was born Wednesday, August 2, 1944, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, the daughter of Birl and Willie Mae (Smith) Grimes. She was raised in Hopkinsville, and graduated from Christian County High School with the class of 1962. In 1963, she moved to Ottawa. Thelma was united in marriage with Wendell L. Lewis, Sr. March 30, 1963, in Hopkinsville. He survives of the home. Other survivors include her three children, Wendell L. Lewis, Jr. of Ottawa, Sheila M. Lewis of Ottawa, and Karen L. Lewis of Raymore, Missouri; eight siblings, Burnell Grimes of Indianapolis, Indiana, Melvin Grimes and wife Mary of Los Angeles, California, Betty Mosley of Youngstown, Ohio, Corrine Babb and husband Clifford of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Dorothy Mae West of Indianapolis, Sandra Williams also of Indianapolis, Rose Wilson of Louisville, Kentucky, and Vanessa Cave and husband Ernest of Goldsboro, North Carolina; sister-in-law, Carrie Lee Grimes of Hopkinsville; foster sister, Phyllis Kendrick of Hopkinsville; aunt, Mildred Hendricks of Hopkinsville; six grandchildren, Karessa Johnson and husband Ollie, Chelsea Shanklin, Dominick, Devin, Cydney, and Andre Lewis; and four great-grandchildren, Quincey Lewis, Kiara Lewis, Julian Johnson-Lewis, and Aniyah Lewis. She was preceded in death by her son, Steven Lewis; parents, Birl and Willie Mae Grimes; and three siblings, Andrew Grimes, Barbara Haddox and Arnold Smith Grimes. Thelma was a devoted homemaker and the owner-operator of Chosen Generation Daycare for thirty-five years, retiring in 2011. She also worked for Pence’s IGA as a checker in the early to mid 1970’s. She was a dedicated member of the Bethany Chapel Baptist Church, Mothers Board and president of missions, choir director, Helping Hands ministry, and deaconess. She was the second vice president of Neosho Valley District Missions, charter member of Voice of Praise, and a member of BCBC Praise and Worship Team. The family suggests memorial contributions to Bethany Chapel Baptist Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to leave their condolences and memories on Thelma’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com