Thelma Louise (Alumbaugh) Lower

On January 14th, 1937, a cold winter’s day in Williams, Oklahoma Thelma Louise Lower was born to Harley Alumbaugh and Edith Irene Ellis-Alumbaugh.  It was a rustic cabin, on her grandparents’ homestead, the snow coming through the cracks in the walls.  During the second wave of the Dust Bowl they migrated to California when she was all of 6 months old.  Her parents worked the fields, living in tents under trees, and at one point a well house.  When she was about 8 her father broke his back; and her mother had to go to work in town leaving little Thelma to care for her father and mentally challenged brother.  Eventually her father obtained a job ranching and for the first time they had a real house.  Her father was able to buy a small farm and there they remained.  She met Vernon George Lower in August 1954; introduced by her friend Sue's boyfriend Don.  The story is Don saw a fellow sailor uptown and asked if he wanted to meet a girl.  The rest is history.  They married September 18, 1954.  They were best friends; doing everything together.  They loved camping, fishing, and especially traveling.  Along the way welcoming a daughter Sharon and two sons Kenneth James and Steven Dale.  Sadly she lost two children, Deborah and Jonathan.  She had two grandsons Ken and Vern, four granddaughters Crystal, Sierra, Essie, and April, and two great-grandchildren.  Something most do not know about her is if she hadn't met dad, married and had children her secret ambition was to be an archaeologist.  She said she loved caves and digging in the dirt.  She was funny, kind, and a little feisty; but always had a ready smile and a willingness to talk with anyone.  She will be missed by those who knew her, especially her best friend Sue, her nieces, and nephews.  Rest in Jesus.

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