Thelma Dietel Gallagher Yarbrough's Obituary
Thelma Dietel Gallagher Yarbrough died Wednesday, December 27, 2006 at Summer Meadows Nursing Home of natural causes.
She was born in New Braunfels on September 9, 1917 to Bruno and Olga Baus Dietel. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Marvin and Bernhard, husband of 26 years Ben F. Gallagher, and husband of 16 years, Don M. Yarbrough. Her early years were spent in Dallas where she graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1935 and attended what is now the University of Texas at Arlington. She then went to work
for Civil Service, issuing social security numbers at the start of that program.
In 1949, she and her family moved to Marshall where she became executive secretary to the first five general managers of the Longhorn Division of Thiokol Corporation, working there for 24 years. She had been an active member of the First Christian Church for over 54 years, and was a member of the Sons of Hermann Lodge for over seventy years.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Ben and Gwen Gallagher of Longview,
grandchildren and their spouses, Michael and Cameron Gallagher of Pearland, Texas, and Paul and Julie Gallagher Cummings of Brentwood, Tennessee, four great grandchildren, Rylee and Reed Gallagher and Charlie and Benjamin Cummings, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Also surviving are her step-children, Jean Yarbrough Smoley, Joan Yarbrough McCollough, and Joe Yarbrough.
Graveside services will be held, Saturday, December 30, 2006 at 10:00 AM at Algoma North cemetery in Marshall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the First Christian Church, 1101 Indian Springs Road in Marshall, or the hospice of your choice.
The family wishes to especially thank her special friends Jean Shaw, Reverend Janice Hill, Reverend Carl Teel, Rita Lily, and the caregivers at Summer Meadows Nursing Home and Heart'sWay Hospice.
A memorial guestbook may be signed online at www.raderfh.com
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