OBITUARY: Thelma M. Bovard, 91, Passed Away June 19, Worked 18 Years at Craig Technologies

She worked 18 Years for Craig Technologies

 

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Thelma M. Bovard, 91, of Bloomington, Illinois, formerly of Canton, Galesburg and Abingdon, passed away on Monday, June 19, 2023, at St. Joseph Hospital in Bloomington.

She was born on September 11, 1931, in Banner Township, IL, to Albert and Ruth (Stufflebeam) Williams, both of whom preceded her in death.

Thelma is survived by her husband of 65 years, Carl Bovard. They were married on November 1, 1957, in Abingdon, Illinois.

Also surviving are three children, Tim Bovard of Little Rock Arkansas, Carol (John) Craig of Merritt Island, FL, Diana (Gary) Wang of Bloomington; one sister, Hilda (the late Lester) Murphy of Canton; and five grandchildren, Dan Craig and Gillian Craig of Merritt Island, FL, Lillian Wang, Ellen Wang, and Gretchen Wang of Bloomington, IL.

Also preceding her in death are three brothers, Carl Williams, Cecil Williams, Glenn “Amos Williams and one sister, Wilma Buley.

Thelma worked as a Math Teacher for several years in Avon, London Mills, and Abingdon, IL. After she raised 3 kids, she went back to work part time and was a secretary at Cardinal Engineering for approximately 15 years. She also worked for her daughter Carol’s company Craig Technologies for another 18 years. Thelma always had a mantra that “retiring isn’t Biblical” so she never thought of herself as retired.

She was a longtime member of Abingdon UMC, the Galesburg UMC, Wesley UMC in Canton, and for the last 6 years, Wesley UMC in Bloomington, IL. Thelma loved doing genealogy work on her computer and kept track of both sides of her family and both sides of her husband’s family.

Thelma was a good seamstress and still had her 1970s Singer sewing machine. In her younger years, she and her husband enjoyed visiting friends and family on Sunday afternoons and would often engage in the card game of pitch or dominoes.

Technology was never an issue for Thelma. Even at 91, she was quite proficient at texting her children and grandchildren.

Visitation was held on July 10 at Oaks-Hines Funeral Home in Canton and the funeral service followed on July 11 at the funeral home. Burial followed at Walnut Cemetery in Banner.

Memorials may be made to the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research. To leave online condolences, please visit OakShinesFuneralhome.com.

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