Thelma Fern Olmstead

Thelma Fern (Cameron) Olmstead, 97, a longtime resident of Glencoe, passed away Friday, December 16, 2022, in the OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City.

A Celebration of Thelma’s Life will be conducted by Brother Rick Alexander at the Greater Vision Church, located at 1104 Pogue St., in Perkins, Oklahoma at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, December 28, 2022.

Thelma was born near Nowata, Oklahoma, to Lewis Herbert Cameron and Amanda Elizabeth (Greening) Cameron on Monday, August 24, 1925. The fourth of ten children, Thelma was raised on an oil lease southwest of that city. During World War II, she attended a Department of Defense Youth Training Program in Muskogee, Oklahoma, graduating as a master riveter at the age of 17.

Thelma worked as a riveter for the Boeing subcontractor, Continental Can Company, building bomb bay doors for the B-52 Stratofortress until 1959 when she and her family moved to Stillwater. In 1960, she began working at Stillwater’s new C. E. Donart High School in the Cafeteria. Thelma left Donart to work for the OSU Student Union Bookstore in 1968 where she stayed until her retirement from OSU in 1987.

As a retiree, she enjoyed many hobbies - old and new – embroidery, sewing, reading, crypt-a-quotes, crosswords and travel. She was a charter member of the Stillwater Travel Club enjoying 3 -5 trips a year to various locations until she was almost 90 - a cruise to Alaska, trips to Disney World, Hawaii, the Bahamas, and a cruise up the Mississippi River were among her favorites.

An intensely religious woman, Thelma always had a smile on her face and a welcome for one and all. She especially loved large family gatherings such as weddings, family reunions or during the holidays. She was a member of the Olive Branch Rebecca Lodge #37 for more than 50-years where she reached the exalted position of Nobel Grand. Thelma had a special fondness for her fur babies over the years: Rat, Limpy, BeeBee, Bear, Buddy and Frosty.

Thelma is survived by her brothers: Curtis Ray Cameron, Fort Collins, CO; GW and wife Shirley, Cameron, Cherryvale, KS; her sisters: Peggy and husband Charles Willyard, Checotah, OK; Carol Sue and husband Ken Baber, Atlanta, KS; her children: Anne Olmstead Bramble of San Angelo, TX; her son Kevin Eugene Olmstead and wife Jonie, Glencoe, OK; her daughter-in-law Sally (widow of Kenny Curtis), Euless, TX; grandchildren: Mark, Katheryn, Anne, Travis, Matt & Clayton Olmstead; two great-grandchildren; Ellyse & Trevor Olmstead; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Thelma was proceeded in death by her parents; her loving husband of 44 years, Kenneth Eugene ‘Kenny’ Olmstead; her oldest son, Kenny Curtis ‘Ken aka Jigger’ Olmstead; her son-in-law Hugh David Bramble; and grandson, Paul Curtis Bramble.

Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.dightonmarler.com. In lieu of flowers or plants in celebration of her long and happy life Thelma requested that donations be sent to the Disabled Veterans of America or the Animal Welfare Agency of your choice.