Thelma Strunk Hawkins

Thelma was born on the Gembler homestead south of San Antonio eight years after Theo and Katie married. She was baptized at St. Johns Lutheran Church, the oldest Lutheran Church in San Antonio. She was confirmed while in the 8th grade at Highland Park Lutheran Church after taking two years of catechism. Her mother, Katie, passed on November 17, 1929, when Thelma was seven years old.

Thelmas first language was German. She did not learn English until entering a one-teacher schoolhouse with seven grades on W.W. White Road. After finishing there, her father wanted her to continue her education, so he moved her in with her Grandma Strunk in San Antonio. She attended Edgar Allen Poe Jr. High for the 8th grade with about 800 students, a band, art, drama, PE and a football team that was a big adjustment. She stayed and slept in the same room with Grandma Strunk on a steel cot where everyone spoke German.

To attend Brackenridge High School, Grandma Strunk and her father moved Thelma to her Aunt Adeles next to H&H Coffee Company. Thelma made friends with people as she walked through the neighborhood to catch the bus to go to school for three years, graduating in May 1938.

In Thelmas junior year, she was the junior editor for "La Retana" yearbook, Parliamentarian of Purple Masquers Literary Club, and represented Brackenridge High School as a future homemaker on a radio program called, "Young San Antonio - College Hi Review Session" where people could call with questions for her while on the air.

In Thelmas senior year, she was the Associate Editor of "La Retama", involved in the National Honors Society, English Honor Society, Quill and Scroll Journalism Club, President of the Purple Masquers, member of the Purple Jacket Drill Team, office student assistant, and Student Advisory bank cashier.

Thelma then went to Draughons Business College in San Antonio and graduated in the summer of 1939. She married Lonnie at Highland Park Lutheran Church September 3, 1939.

Draughons Business College helped her get a job with an attorneys office where she worked for a year and a half until her father, Theo, was diagnosed with terminal malignant melanoma. She and Lonnie moved to the home place at Hilltop in 1940 to care for her father and manage his animals and crops. Her father died on October 18,1943.

She and Lonnie continued to live on the Hilltop farm for another 11 years and took care of the land grant farm on W.W. White Road. They decided to move to Highland Hills in San Antonio in 1954, on the south side of San Antonio so their children would be able to attend school in the San Antonio School System.

In 1955, after Kathy was born, Thelma did the billing for Knowltons Creamery business office and also worked from home on an AVON assigned route.

In 1966, Thelma began working in the main office at Highlands High School in the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD). She was then promoted to secretary for the principal. Principal Mahan was promoted to the main SAISD office and took Thelma with him. After Mr. Mahan retired, Mr. Alvarez became the Assistant Superintendent and asked Thelma to be his administrative assistant. She received many promotions over the next several years. Thelma retired in the spring of 1989, when Mr. Alvarez retired. Including her service at Highlands High School, she worked over 23 years in SAISD.

Thelma and Lonnie moved to a house on Broken Oak in San Antonio, that their son, Jerry, built in 1974. Lonnie passed away on August 21, 2002. Thelma moved to the Laurels Assisted Living in February of 2015 following Kathys move into the Haven in the fall of 2014.

Through Thelmas marriage to Lonnie, she inherited a large family she loved dearly. Their home was always open for gatherings, visiting neighbors, and friends. In addition to her family, Thelma had a love of animals and a great respect for nature. She lovingly cared for many family members in their twilight years on both sides of the family tree. She was always polite, inquisitive, and a good judge of character. She lived with grace and fortitude.

Thelma and Lonnie were definitely a "team" in working with Dan, Jerry, and Kathy to make sure they stayed focused on their goals. They were very proud of their achievements with careers and their families.

She will be fondly remembered by her children, Dan (Lisa), Jerry (Cindy), and Kathy; her grandchildren, Chelsea (Zack) Bussey, Jessica (Joey) Rodriguez, and Kate Hawkins; and her great-grandchildren, Kendall (Bussey), and Josiah (Rodriguez), and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the Laurels staff and residents for their years of support and friendship.

FUNERAL SERVICE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2022

12:00 PM

PORTER LORING NORTH CHAPEL

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to VITAS Hospice, 8401 DataPoint Dr., Suite 300, San Antonio, Texas 78229. We are grateful for the compassioate care and service that the Vitas staff provided.