Thelma Klemish, the youngest of five children born to Joseph Thomas and Minnie Martha Plate Klemish, was raised on the family farm in Adubon County, Iowa. A 1943 graduate of Exira High School, Thelma was named to the All County Basketball Team her Senior year and earned certificates throughout her high school years in basketball. She excelled in academics and business courses with yearly certificates in Gregg Shorthand and Typing.
Her Texas adventure began in 1945 when she and best friend Phyllis Walker were visiting Phyllis' sister in Imperial, Texas. The two Iowa Farm Girls decided to extend their visit and took jobs as waitresses in Fort Stockton, Texas, where Thelma met Willard Carroll Pittman of Grandfalls, Texas. Their ‘Love At First Sight' story began when Willard stepped off the bus and into the café while on his way home on leave from the Navy. The couple were married on January 6, 1946 in Yuma, Arizona.
Thelma and Willard Pittman were long time residents of Grandfalls and Monahans until his death in 1988. She married Lloyd O. Lankford in 1989 and enjoyed several years of retirement, traveling and living in Wickett, Texas, where they were devoted members of the Wickett Baptist Church. She moved to Midland, Texas after Lloyd's death in 1994.
Mrs. Lankford was preceeded in death by her parents, sister Elsie Akers, brothers Lloyd, Leon and Eugene Klemish, all of Iowa; husband Willard C. Pittman; husband Lloyd O. Lankford and son Stacy Scott Pittman. She is survived by daughter Sue Pittman McPeak and her husband Wayne of San Angelo, Texas; son Thomas W. Pittman and wife Sharon of Monahans; daughter Sonja Pittman of Monahans; daughter Connie Pittman of New Braunfels, Texas; 11 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandson born December 5, 2013; sister-in-law Mildred Klemish and many Klemish/Akers Nieces and Nephews from Iowa; lifetime best friend Phyllis Walker Hensley of Willow Park, Texas.
Graveside services Tuesday, December 17th at 2:00 under the direction of Harkey Funeral Home and Pastor James Waskom of the First Baptist Church of Wickett. Internment at Tamarisk Cemetery in Grandfalls, Texas. Pall Bearers: Tommy Pittman, Wayne McPeak; Grandsons Spencer McPeak, Jason Pittman, Chase Okrasinski, Lance Okrasinski, Shane Okrasinski, Logan Pittman, Cody Pittman and Great Grandsons Mason Wayne McPeak,Jason Thomas Pittman and Braden Riggins.
Her Texas adventure began in 1945 when she and best friend Phyllis Walker were visiting Phyllis' sister in Imperial, Texas. The two Iowa Farm Girls decided to extend their visit and took jobs as waitresses in Fort Stockton, Texas, where Thelma met Willard Carroll Pittman of Grandfalls, Texas. Their ‘Love At First Sight' story began when Willard stepped off the bus and into the café while on his way home on leave from the Navy. The couple were married on January 6, 1946 in Yuma, Arizona.
Thelma and Willard Pittman were long time residents of Grandfalls and Monahans until his death in 1988. She married Lloyd O. Lankford in 1989 and enjoyed several years of retirement, traveling and living in Wickett, Texas, where they were devoted members of the Wickett Baptist Church. She moved to Midland, Texas after Lloyd's death in 1994.
Mrs. Lankford was preceeded in death by her parents, sister Elsie Akers, brothers Lloyd, Leon and Eugene Klemish, all of Iowa; husband Willard C. Pittman; husband Lloyd O. Lankford and son Stacy Scott Pittman. She is survived by daughter Sue Pittman McPeak and her husband Wayne of San Angelo, Texas; son Thomas W. Pittman and wife Sharon of Monahans; daughter Sonja Pittman of Monahans; daughter Connie Pittman of New Braunfels, Texas; 11 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandson born December 5, 2013; sister-in-law Mildred Klemish and many Klemish/Akers Nieces and Nephews from Iowa; lifetime best friend Phyllis Walker Hensley of Willow Park, Texas.
Graveside services Tuesday, December 17th at 2:00 under the direction of Harkey Funeral Home and Pastor James Waskom of the First Baptist Church of Wickett. Internment at Tamarisk Cemetery in Grandfalls, Texas. Pall Bearers: Tommy Pittman, Wayne McPeak; Grandsons Spencer McPeak, Jason Pittman, Chase Okrasinski, Lance Okrasinski, Shane Okrasinski, Logan Pittman, Cody Pittman and Great Grandsons Mason Wayne McPeak,Jason Thomas Pittman and Braden Riggins.
Thelma Klemish, the youngest of five children born to Joseph Thomas and Minnie Martha Plate Klemish, was raised on the family farm in Adubon County, Iowa. A 1943 graduate of Exira High School, Thelma was named to the All County Basketball Team her Senior year and earned certificates throughout her high school years in basketball. She excelled in academics and business courses with yearly certificates in Gregg Shorthand and Typing.
Her Texas adventure began in 1945 when she and best friend Phyllis Walker were visiting Phyllis' sister in Imperial, Texas. The two Iowa Farm Girls decided to extend their visit and took jobs as waitresses in Fort Stockton, Texas, where Thelma met Willard Carroll Pittman of Grandfalls, Texas. Their ‘Love At First Sight' story began when Willard stepped off the bus and into the café while on his way home on leave from the Navy. The couple were married on January 6, 1946 in Yuma, Arizona.
Thelma and Willard Pittman were long time residents of Grandfalls and Monahans until his death in 1988. She married Lloyd O. Lankford in 1989 and enjoyed several years of retirement, traveling and living in Wickett, Texas, where they were devoted members of the Wickett Baptist Church. She moved to Midland, Texas after Lloyd's death in 1994.
Mrs. Lankford was preceeded in death by her parents, sister Elsie Akers, brothers Lloyd, Leon and Eugene Klemish, all of Iowa; husband Willard C. Pittman; husband Lloyd O. Lankford and son Stacy Scott Pittman. She is survived by daughter Sue Pittman McPeak and her husband Wayne of San Angelo, Texas; son Thomas W. Pittman and wife Sharon of Monahans; daughter Sonja Pittman of Monahans; daughter Connie Pittman of New Braunfels, Texas; 11 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandson born December 5, 2013; sister-in-law Mildred Klemish and many Klemish/Akers Nieces and Nephews from Iowa; lifetime best friend Phyllis Walker Hensley of Willow Park, Texas.
Graveside services Tuesday, December 17th at 2:00 under the direction of Harkey Funeral Home and Pastor James Waskom of the First Baptist Church of Wickett. Internment at Tamarisk Cemetery in Grandfalls, Texas. Pall Bearers: Tommy Pittman, Wayne McPeak; Grandsons Spencer McPeak, Jason Pittman, Chase Okrasinski, Lance Okrasinski, Shane Okrasinski, Logan Pittman, Cody Pittman and Great Grandsons Mason Wayne McPeak,Jason Thomas Pittman and Braden Riggins.
Her Texas adventure began in 1945 when she and best friend Phyllis Walker were visiting Phyllis' sister in Imperial, Texas. The two Iowa Farm Girls decided to extend their visit and took jobs as waitresses in Fort Stockton, Texas, where Thelma met Willard Carroll Pittman of Grandfalls, Texas. Their ‘Love At First Sight' story began when Willard stepped off the bus and into the café while on his way home on leave from the Navy. The couple were married on January 6, 1946 in Yuma, Arizona.
Thelma and Willard Pittman were long time residents of Grandfalls and Monahans until his death in 1988. She married Lloyd O. Lankford in 1989 and enjoyed several years of retirement, traveling and living in Wickett, Texas, where they were devoted members of the Wickett Baptist Church. She moved to Midland, Texas after Lloyd's death in 1994.
Mrs. Lankford was preceeded in death by her parents, sister Elsie Akers, brothers Lloyd, Leon and Eugene Klemish, all of Iowa; husband Willard C. Pittman; husband Lloyd O. Lankford and son Stacy Scott Pittman. She is survived by daughter Sue Pittman McPeak and her husband Wayne of San Angelo, Texas; son Thomas W. Pittman and wife Sharon of Monahans; daughter Sonja Pittman of Monahans; daughter Connie Pittman of New Braunfels, Texas; 11 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandson born December 5, 2013; sister-in-law Mildred Klemish and many Klemish/Akers Nieces and Nephews from Iowa; lifetime best friend Phyllis Walker Hensley of Willow Park, Texas.
Graveside services Tuesday, December 17th at 2:00 under the direction of Harkey Funeral Home and Pastor James Waskom of the First Baptist Church of Wickett. Internment at Tamarisk Cemetery in Grandfalls, Texas. Pall Bearers: Tommy Pittman, Wayne McPeak; Grandsons Spencer McPeak, Jason Pittman, Chase Okrasinski, Lance Okrasinski, Shane Okrasinski, Logan Pittman, Cody Pittman and Great Grandsons Mason Wayne McPeak,Jason Thomas Pittman and Braden Riggins.
Family Members
See more Pittman/Lankford or Klemish memorials in:
- Tamarisk Cemetery Pittman/Lankford or Klemish
- Grandfalls Pittman/Lankford or Klemish
- Ward County Pittman/Lankford or Klemish
- Texas Pittman/Lankford or Klemish
- USA Pittman/Lankford or Klemish
- Find a Grave Pittman/Lankford or Klemish
