Thelda Frances Schafer

Thelda Frances (Jones) Schafer passed away on June 26, 2013 at Linnwood Park of Meridan, KS. She was born June 11, 1921 to James and Ione (Yohe) Jones, on a farm near Plainville, KS. She was the oldest of 8 children.
Having gone through the depression and the dust bowl days, she was a strong and independent woman. She graduated a year early from Plainville High School and went to graduate from Brown Mackie Business College. She moved to Wichita where she first worked at Coleman Lamp and Stove Co., and then at Boeing Aircraft. It was at Boeing that she met the love of her life, John H. Schafer of Perry, KS. They were united in marriage February 20, 1944 in Wichita. John went to work at Goodyear-Topeka and then joined Goodyear International, taking Thelda to live in France, Italy, Germany, and Sweden. After his untimely death, she moved back to Topeka. She went to work for Southwestern Bell, retiring in 1986.
Thelda was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, four brothers, Elmer Jones, Jim Jones, John Jones, and Russell Jones, and two nieces Kara Lane and Diane Nutsch.
She is survived by two sons, Todd (Beth) Schafer of Topeka and Ronn Schafer of Merriam, KS, two granddaughters, Elizabeth Schafer of Lawrence and Anne Schafer of Atchison, two sisters, Nadine Bair of Plainville and Eileen (George) Lane of McHenry, IL, one brother, Kenneth Jones of Brush, CO, three sisters-in-law, Marge Jones of Plainville, Betty Atwell and Oleta Schafer, both of Topeka, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Ave. Private inurnment will take place in Oakridge Cemetery, Perry, KS at a later date. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the organization of the donor's choice.