Thelma Miner

Thelma Lenore Mahler passed peacefully at the age of 95 on Saturday, October 24, 2026.

Thelma was born on March 4, 1931, to Charles and Anna (Leibowitz) Mahler. As a young adult, Thelma moved to San Francisco where she met her future husband, Duane Albert Miner. Two weeks after meeting they were married on 8 June 1951 in San Francisco by a Justice of the Peace.

Duane’s ship was repositioned and the family moved to Virginia, where they spent the duration of his Naval career stationed on the East Coast of the United States.

When Duane retired from the Navy in 1972, the family moved to Seminole County Florida. Thelma spoke fondly of their time in the Navy, where she stood by her husband’s side as he performed his duties as Naval Commander. During his time at sea, she was responsible for the families left behind by the men under his command. She also ran her home like a ship, keeping everything organized and ship-shape. After Duane’s death (17 August 2005), Thelma moved in with her daughter, Kathy, in Gulfport, MS and was eventually relocated to Johnson City, TN.

Thelma enjoyed interacting with people, so during her retirement years she spent time volunteering at various facilities, from a gift shop at the local hospital in Gulfport, MS to the Pet Rescue store in Murphy, NC. She loved helping others. Thelma very much enjoyed the casinos. She would go often with her husband, and she continued her excursions there after he was deceased. She also enjoyed bowling, and she maintained a position in a bowling league through her 89th birthday.

Thelma was predeceased by her eternal companion (husband of 54 years) Duane Miner. She was also predeceased by her parents, Charles and Anna (Leibowitz) Mahler, her older sister, Doris (Mahler) Timpano Brooke Oglesby, and her younger brother Robert Mahler.

Thelma is survived by her six children: Charles (wife Ann), Denise Kinzerler (husband Tom), Duane Jr (wife Rhonda), Katherine Burch (husband Jerry), Barbara Williams (husband Calvin) and Arthur (wife Elizabeth), her nine grandchildren: Duane III, Rebecca, Leigh Anne, Joel, Tommy, John, Courtney, Benjamin, and Alexander, and her ten great-grandchildren: Eva, Abby, Juliette, Anna, Victoria, Katerina, Nikolai, Mackenzie, Elijah and Madelyn.

At the end, Thelma was looking forward to reuniting with Duane. Every time she spoke of seeing him again, a smile would naturally appear on her face. She said that she spoke to him every day to let him know what was happening in the crazy world of ours.

She will be missed by all who knew her!!

Thelma’s Funeral Service will be held at Deltona Memorial Funeral Home, 1295 Saxon Blvd, Orange City, FL 32763, US, on November 7, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

A Graveside Committal will follow at Deltona Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Saxon Blvd, Orange City, FL 32763, US, on November 7, 2026, from 11:00 am to 11:30 am.