Obituary of Thelma Louise Ross

Thelma Louise (Worley) Ross was born March 19, 1926 in Southard, Oklahoma to Walter & Era (Bozarth) Worley. She joined an older brother, Edward, and older sister, Pauline. The family lived in Enid, OK until 1938, when they joined family living in Buhl, Idaho due to the Dust Bowl. Thelma attended Buhl schools and graduated from Buhl High School as salutatorian of the class of 1943. Thelma attended Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Oregon during which time she married Dorsel Radford. The two of them were blessed with a son, Ted, and a daughter, Paula Jo Keli Renee. They were later divorced. Thelma worked as a bookkeeper for the Twin Falls Assessors Office. It was there she met and fell in love with her future husband, Paul Standlee Ross, a Twin Falls County Deputy Sheriff. They married September 1962 and were blessed with a daughter, Sandlee Jayne. Paul later adopted Thelma’s two other children, Ted & Paula Jo Keli Renee. The family loved camping in Elk Meadows near Stanley, Idaho during the summer in their handcrafted camper made from an old Greyhound bus. They really enjoyed sharing the experience with as many extended family members who were able to attend. Their love of camping continued later in life, joining the Good Sam’s Club where their chapter name was “Bluebirds” referring to the Idaho state bird. After leaving the Sheriff’s office in 1964, Paul purchased a semi‐truck. He and Thelma drove long hauls across the western U.S. They made many trips to Portland, where they always would have to bring back a piece of driftwood or a rock found on the Pacific coast. Thelma was one of the first female truck drivers on the road at the time, and she told many stories about the state police pulling them over just to confirm a woman really was behind the wheel. She also told about Paul resting but as soon as they came to the Blues Mountains in Oregon, he would be awake and up helping her double shift the gears because she was not strong enough to pull both and drive. The family lived in Twin Falls until 1971, when they moved to Eden. Paul and Thelma started working for Brockman’s Mobile Homes, Paul pulling and setting trailers and Thelma following in a pilot car. Paul then tried his hand at owning and running The Loft Pizza Parlor, which became the location of many wonderful family Christmas parties. During this time, Thelma managed the Silver and Gold Senior Center and they both received the Governor’s Award for more than 1,000 volunteer hours. Thelma was offered the director’s position at the Twin Falls Senior Center. Under Thelma’s directorship of the TF Center, Paul and other volunteers remodeled two different buildings. During her tenure at each senior center, she managed to develop and grow a strong program for the seniors and garner state level recognition. Paul and Thelma also managed a storage unit facility at this time. Upon retiring in 1991, Thelma enjoyed her hobbies, her precious cats, studying the Bible and directing the Red Hat Society. Thelma began playing the pipe organ for the First Christian Church early on and continued throughout most of her life playing the organ at various churches in Twin Falls as well as singing solos for services. People remember her for her lovely voice, especially singing “The King is Coming!” Many of her family and friends were the recipients of her beautifully crocheted covered clothes hangers. Thelma went to be with her Lord and Savior July 31, 2015. She was preceded in death by her parents Walter & Era Worley, husband Paul, and siblings Edward & Pauline. She is survived by her son Ted (wife Barbara) of CA, daughters Keli Sutton of UT and Sandlee Fairbanks (husband Arthur) of ID, granddaughters Heather Pecht (husband Charlie) of ID, Hillary Grigel (husband Eric) of AZ, Lynzey Ryan (husband Josh) of UT, Tandra Fairbanks‐Freund (husband Manuel Freund) of Germany, and Ashlee Fairbanks of ID, grandson Eric Surber of UT, great grandchildren Kyla Ryan, Landon & Tennessee Pecht, and Cadence, Ethan & Weston Grigel. Memorial Services will be held September 6 at 2:30 pm at Rosenau Funeral Home, 2826 Addison Avenue East, Twin Falls, Idaho with Pastor John Babbs and dear friend Gene Lawley officiating. Family and Friends are invited to remain after for a reception and fellowship. Thelma will be laid to rest beside her loving Paul in Hazelton Cemetery at a later time, but spreading of part of the ashes will take place September 5 at 3:30 pm at Chuck and Sherry Helman’s in the South Hills past Hansen. For directions contact Sandlee Fairbanks. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials are made in Thelma’s name to: People for Pets, 420 Victory Avenue, Twin Falls.