Thelma Zimmer, 97
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 11 years, 1 month AGO
June 15,1917 - Nov. 17, 2014
Thelma Zimmer, 97, of Washougal, Wash., passed away peacefully in her sleep on Nov. 17, 2014.
Thelma was born in Hardin, Mont., to Emeral Peppers and Cora Taylor Peppers. She was the second of five children. Her early school years were spent in a one-room school and she rode her horse to school every day. On her 12th birthday, the family left Montana and moved west to the Yakima Valley area in Washington.
After Thelma married Conrad Zimmer, they moved to Wapato, Wash., where her sons were born. She was active there in the American Legion Auxiliary and was an avid bowler.
In 1967, Thelma moved to the Portland/Vancouver area to be closer to her parents. She enjoyed retirement after many years as a janitor at the Portland Airport.
Bowling was a 70+ year love of hers, and Thelma was still bowling several days a week at age 94. Other favorites were casino trips to Reno and the Oregon Coast, sewing and reading. The time she cherished the most was spent with her family and friends.
Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, her ex-husband Conrad Zimmer, and her brothers Jim, Bill and Charles Peppers.
Thelma is survived by her sons Edward (Kathy) and Jack (Kathie), eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren, her sister Hazel Robinette, her sister-in-law Betty Zimmer, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Special thanks go to Jim and Julie DeBoever for their loving care of Mom for the past two years.
Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 24, at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, 1101 NE 11th Ave., in Vancouver, Wash.
Because Thelma's great-grandson Ryan suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, #200, Bethesda, Md., 20814 or on-line at www.cff.org "in memory of Thelma Zimmer."