Helen Jane Thurman

Helen Jane (Dahl) Thurman passed away Tuesday morning, May 31, 2016 in her home in Ochelata, OK, at the age of 83. She was born on February 26, 1933 in Rogers, Arkansas, to Floyd and Jewell Rich as the fifth of seven children. After her mother's death, she lived at the Door of Hope Orphanage for a few years before she and was adopted at age 10 by William and Tisha Dahl of Ochelata, gaining 2 new siblings. She graduated from Ochelata High School in 1950. She then attended college at Central Christian College in Bartlesville, OK. On September 3, 1954, she was united in marriage to Donald E. Thurman. To this union were born 3 children, Donald E. Thurman II, Tony Wayne Thurman, and Pamela Jane (Thurman) Schaper. They blessed her with 8 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, who were the joy of her life. She worked for TRW Reda Pump for 22 years from 1975 until her retirement in 1998. She was a member of the Ochelata Bible Holiness Church, where she attended for 73 years. She loved children. She taught Sunday School for over 70 years and was still helping with her class a week before she passed away. She taught Vacation Bible School and planned the church Christmas program for many years and helped with Ochelata Youth Camp for 33 years, where she was affectionately known as the snack shack lady. She hosted Sunday family dinners at her home until very recently and still brought a couple of dishes every week when she was no longer able to serve as hostess. She lovingly sewed many baby outfits, wedding gowns, and quilts for her friends and family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Jewell Rich and William and Tisha Dahl, and 5 siblings, Bill Rich, JC Rich, Margaret Hull, Lee Dahl Helen Underwood. She leaves to mourn two brothers, Charles Castleman of Ochelata, and Dale Rich and wife Belva of Edmond, OK, one sister, Reba Caddy of Denver, CO, sister-in-law Jean Rich of Council Bluffs, lA, three children, Donald Thurman and wife Stacey of Pawnee, OK, Tony Thurman and wife Sheryl of Bucyrus, KS, and Pamela Schaper and husband Quentin of Ochelata, OK, 8 grandchildren, Rachel Street, Justin Schaper, Sarah Berry, Jessica Baber, Samantha Sequichie, Daniel Thurman, Benjamin Thurman, and Madelyn Thurman, and 12 great grandchildren.

Helen Jane Thurman

February 26, 1933 - May 31, 2016