Thelma Maxine Smith

December 12, 1922 - November 13, 2014

Thelma Maxine Smith, age 91, of Knoxville passed away Thursday evening, November 13, 2014, at the Pella Hospice Comfort House. Funeral service for Thelma will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, November 17, 2014, at the Winfield Funeral Home, with Pastor Brent Hanna officiating. Thelma’s family will greet friends from 1:00 p.m. to service time. Burial will follow services at Graceland Cemetery of Knoxville. Thelma was born in Doubs, Iowa on December 12, 1922, the daughter of Ross and Ora Mae (Erskine) Schaffer. She was a graduate of Selma High School, Class of 1940. Thelma participated in girls basketball and cheerleading. Immediately after high school she attended the Ottumwa Beauty School and graduated in 1941. After graduation Thelma and her college roommate, and future sister-in-law, moved to Knoxville, Iowa where they worked at Irene’s Beautician Shop. Thelma soon met Irene’s son, Ben Smith, Jr. Thelma and Ben were united in marriage on August 9, 1942, in Las Vegas, Nevada. They shared over 70 years of marriage together, and were blessed with two sons: Ben III and Richard Paul, before Ben’s passing on January 13, 2013. Thelma and Ben lived in California where she was employed with Lockheed Aircraft in Los Angeles for a short time before working at a beautician shop. After Ben’s military service they moved back to Iowa. She has lived in Knoxville since 1945. Thelma and Ben founded and operated the Modern Cleaners in Knoxville. Later she owned Mode-O-Day Women’s Clothing; and she finished her career with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department. Thelma was a very talented seamstress and cook. She loved her family; her pet dogs and throughout her life she enjoyed fishing. She was also a member of the First United Methodist Church. Thelma is survived by her two sons, Ben “Sonny” Smith III and wife Sharon of Pella and Richard P. Smith of Sabine Pass, TX and Jacquelyn Smith of St. Peter’s, MO; four grandchildren, Holly (Bradley) Rietveld, Nicole (Ty) Comstock, James Ross (Shanny) Smith and Kristina (Charles) LaTurno; eight great grandchildren; and nieces, Ann Wester and Joanne Schaffer. She was preceded by her parents, Ross and Ora Schaffer; her husband, Ben Smith, Jr. and two brothers, Ken & Paul Schaffer. A memorial in Thelma’s memory has been established to the Pella Hospice Comfort House. Condolences may be sent to www.winfieldfh.com. The Winfield Funeral Home of Knoxville is helping Thelma’s family with services.