Thelma Esther Hileman, age 95, formerly of 334 Rolling Hills North, Bloomsburg, died Monday, April 14, 2014, at the Mennonite Home in Albany, Oregon, where she had been a resident for the past year.
Born August 9, 1918, in Bloomsburg, she was the third of eleven children born to Ernest Jasper and Mary Irene (Peterman) Young. She lived her entire life in the Bloomsburg area until moving to Oregon in 2012 to live with her daughter, Susan.
Thelma grew up on the family farm in Mount Pleasant Township and attended grades 1-8 at White's (one room) School, followed by grades 9 and 10 at Millertown High School, where she graduated in 1934. She registered to continue her education at Bloomsburg High School, but her mother told her that she needed her at home to help with the younger children.
She met William "Bill" Hileman on a blind date arranged by her sister, Edna, who was dating Bill's best friend at the time. They were married on December 7, 1935.
Thelma was a 50-year member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Bloomsburg, where she attended church services until her health no longer permitted it.
She loved living in the country, driving her little blue car to Walmart and the mall to get in her daily walk, eating homemade ice cream at the local church socials and fireman's carnivals, and going shopping with her daughter, Ginny.
Thelma was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, on December 15, 1989; a son-in-law, Paul Messersmith, in 2010; sisters: Mae Doherty Bedard in 2002; Edna Sands Swank in 2005; Erma Hilscher Wimmer in 1993; Beverly Jean Gilbert in 2009; Vera Young in 1925 in infancy; brothers: Harold Young in 1995; and Harry Young in 1931 at the age of 8.
She is survived by her three children: Ronald Robert (Shirley) Hileman of Bloomsburg; Mary Susan Messersmith of Millersburg, Oregon; and Virginia Ann (Rolland) Ryan of Stillwater; five grandchildren, who held a special place in her heart: Cindy (Tim) Appleman of Bloomsburg; William "Bill" (Mitzi) Hileman III of Gainesville, Florida; Candy (Domenic) Fantilli of Reading; Joan (James) Davis of Clackamas, Oregon; and Scott (Marni) Ryan of Derry, New Hampshire. She is also survived by ten great-grandchildren: Jared (Amanda) Staskiel, Dustin and Dylan Hileman, Bruno, Elina, Nastya, and Denis Fantilli, Shyanna Davis, and Penny and William Ryan; two great-great grandsons: Carter Lockhart and Eric Staskiel; brothers: Ernest Young, a resident of Grandview Nursing Home in Danville, Howard Young of Frosty Valley Road; sister Barbara Pfleegor of Orangeville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Burial will be in Elan Memorial Park at the convenience of family. Memorial contributions, if desired, may be sent to the charity of the donor's choice.