LilaMae F. Thurman (nee Stemper), age 84, died on May 12, 2014 at Good Samaritan Hospital (Hospice), Vincennes, Indiana, after a long illness. Lila was born in Zell, South Dakota, to the late Clarence and Francis (nee Schmitten) Stemper.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, May 15 at Gill Funeral Home, 308 E. Walnut Street, Washington, Indiana, followed immediately by a memorial service. A private burial will be at Sugarland Memory Gardens of Washington.
On April 8, 1948, Lila married Walter W. Thurman in Mitchell, South Dakota. Lila and Walter made their home in Mitchell, South Dakota; Sheldon, Iowa; and, lastly, in Washington, Indiana for over 40 years. She enjoyed riding motorcycle with her husband to many states, and was a lifetime member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW. In recent years, Lila enjoyed meeting friends at The White Steamer in Washington, Indiana for “coffee.”
Survivors include Walter Thurman, her husband of 66 years, and 3 daughters: Karen Hix of Papillion, Nebraska; Mary Smith of Canton, Georgia; and Linda Nuneman of Sleepy Hollow, Illinois. Also surviving are 6 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.
Lila was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Gerald, George, Cecil, Leonard, Kenneth and Arnold; her sisters Corrine, Rita and Eunice.
Memorial donations may be made to the Washington Catholic Education Endowment, 201 N.E. 2nd Street, Washington, Indiana.
