Thelma Jean Holloway

Thelma Jean (Stephens) Holloway, 94, of Ottawa, formerly of McPherson, passed away on Monday, February 17, 2025, at Rock Creek Nursing Home, Ottawa, KS. Thelma was born in McPherson, Kansas to Henry and Martha (Rump) Stephens on December 25, 1930. She attended grade school at the Victory and Wheatland School Districts. She graduated from McPherson High School in 1948. On December 25, 1949, she was united in marriage to Bobby Lawrence Holloway, in McPherson KS. This union was blessed with three children, Richard, Phyllis, and Coleen. She and Bob were also foster parents to several children. Thelma worked at Farmers Alliance Insurance Co. before moving to Abilene where she was the matron and cook at the Dickinson County Jail. They later moved to Chapman, KS, when Bob became city marshal and Thelma was the bookkeeper and matron for the police department for 18 years. Bob and Thelma retired in 1989 and moved to Lawrence, KS. They enjoyed almost 4 years in Lawrence before the Lord called Bob home. Thelma then became a volunteer at the Babcock High Rise apartment building where they lived. As a volunteer she became president and treasurer of the tenant association, office clerk at the clinic and helped with commodities distribution and in 2008 she became a security guard. Thelma loved sewing, crocheting, making quilts and sewing at the First Christian Church, of which she was a member. Survivors include: her children, Richard (Diana) of McPherson, Phyllis Holloway, Lawrence, Coleen (David) Rector of Ottawa: three grandchildren, Tonya (Kent) Morey, Dawn Holloway, Michelle (Sheldon) Schulz; 7 great-grandchildren, Ashley (Jon) Bennett, Megan (Tim) Konrade, Joel (Chyann) Morey, Matthew (Taylor) Schulz, Jacob, Madison, Haley, Olivia Schulz; 3 great-great grandchildren, Adalynn and Emma Konrade and Nathaniel Schulz; one sister, Edna Spangler, California, one sister-in-law; Bonnie Holloway, Arizona. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bob, and siblings, infant twins, Edward and Edwin, infant sister Inez, Dale, Virginia, and Leroy. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Friday, February 21, 2025 at Glidden-Ediger-Wiggins Chapel, McPherson. Burial will take place at the Crestwood Memorial Park Cemetery, McPherson. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital and can be sent to Glidden-Ediger-Wiggins Funeral Home, 222 W. Euclid, McPherson, KS 67460.

Thelma Jean Holloway

December 25, 1930 - February 17, 2025