Theda Hawkins

Theda Vera Hawkins peacefully passed away early on March 20, 2015 in New Castle, Indiana, at the age of 84, after bravely dealing with a prolonged illness. Theda was born in Knox County, Kentucky to Archie and Helyn (Lowe) Sharp on September 15, 1930. Her family moved to Tennessee where she grew up in Clinchmore, a coal mining town. She rode a bus over the mountain to attend high school in Caryville. When she moved to La Follette, Tennessee she met Harliss M. Goad and they were married December 11, 1948. Theda attended business college while they were relocated in Louisiana. They eventually moved to Connecticut where she worked for many years as a secretary in the admissions office of Wesleyan University and raised their two daughters. Her husband passed away in 1979. Not one to sit still, she went to school and obtained her Associate in Science degree from Middlesex Community College, located in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1982. After a few years and a blind date, Theda moved to Martinsville, Indiana to marry Ralph O. Hawkins. Together they ran the local Dairy Queen. A few years later, finding herself widowed a second time, she relocated to Rushville, Indiana to be closer to her daughters. She then worked in sales at Macy’s department store east of Indianapolis for many years. Theda was a dedicated caregiver to those she loved and to her flower gardens. She was a skilled artist and a great cook. She will be missed by all of her remaining family. Theda is survived by one brother Chesla Sharp and his wife Ruth; her granddaughter, Amy, her husband Andrew Carter and their sons Ben and Luke; her granddaughter, Jennifer, and her husband Thomas Lang and their three children, Elijah, Isaiah, and Hannah; her granddaughterinlaw, Tara Brown and her daughter Juliana; her grandson Alvin Leining and his three children Paige, Ian, and Promise; her grandson Troy Leining and his three children Kain, Marlee and Pacey. Theda was preceded in death by both of her husbands, Harliss and Ralph; her mother and father Archie and Helyn (Lowe) Sharp; her brothers Hermon, Charles and Kenneth Sharp; her daughters Deborah (Goad) Leining and Helen (Goad) Brown; her soninlaw Robert Leining; her grandson Eric Brown; and her great granddaughter Isabella Lang. A memorial service will be held in her honor at First Friends Meeting in New Castle, Indiana on April 11th at 11 am. Rick Schoeff will be presiding and arrangements have been made by Moster Mortuary in Rushville, Indiana. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Lung Association.

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Theda Hawkins

September 15, 1930 - March 20, 2015