Thelma Joy (Bowles) Porterfield, 84, of Mt. Holly, departed to her heavenly home on Wednesday June 24, 2020. Thelma was a traditional wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and homemaker. She was focused on taking care of all of her family members. She was an animal lover who loved her and her family’s pets. Thelma was a good cook. She had a sassy sense of humor and she loved to laugh. Thelma enjoyed shopping – especially for shoes. In her younger days she attended to her own flower garden and helped her husband with his vegetable garden. She served her country as an unsung Air Force wife. She loved her husband, Bobbie Porterfield. They were married 56 years before he passed in 2008. Bobbie thought Thelma hung the moon and she thought the same of him. She was only 16 when she married, but she was committed to her marriage and they built a family based on their love for each other. Thelma will be dearly missed by her family and friends and all that knew and loved her.
Thelma is the daughter of the late Leona (Harner) and Charles Bowles. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bobbie Porterfield. She was from a large family and was also preceded in death by many siblings.
Left to cherish their memories of Thelma and to carry on her legacy are her daughters; Debbie (Porterfield) Caraballo and husband Mario of Charlotte, Barbara (Porterfield) Hensley and husband Charles of Belmont and Tina Porterfield of Mt. Holly. Missing their grandmother are grandsons; Marc Caraballo and fiancée April, Michael Caraballo and fiancée Eleese and Aaron Thomas. Thelma leaves behind five great-grandchildren; Morgan Caraballo, Maddison Caraballo, Miles Caraballo, Ava Caraballo and Emma Caraballo. Also surviving Thelma are her sister; Margaret Goad and brothers; Jack Bowles and Larry Bowles and his wife Dorothy, and many nieces and nephews.
A graveside service and committal will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday June 28, 2020 at Hillcrest Gardens, 1508 Charles Raper Jonas Highway, Mt. Holly, NC. Reverend Erin Yow of Southpoint United Methodist Church will officiate and offer words of encouragement and hope to family and friends that gather to remember Thelma.
Memorials honoring Thelma’s life can be sent to your local animal charity.
Fond memories of Thelma and condolences for the family can be left at www.carothersfuneralhomestanley.com.
The staff of Carothers Funeral Home in Stanley is honored to serve the Porterfield family.
