Thelma Meyer

There are leaders in life, and there are followers. Thelma Meyer was most certainly the former, a woman who followed only her own path in life, a long and winding road through so many places, moments and memories. Thelma was a strong and strong-willed woman, who always spoke her mind. At her heart, though, she was a loving wife, daughter, aunt and friend.

Thelma’s story began on a cool spring day in 1907, in the little farming town of Custer, Michigan. The world was a very different place at the start of the 20th Century, full of perspiration and innovation, when the airplane and the automobile ushered in the dawn of a new era. On March 20, 1907, Alvin and Mabel (Smith) McAllister were celebrating a new era in their lives, as well, with the birth of a baby girl, a daughter they named Thelma.

Thelma joined her older brother Donald in the family’s home, which was located in several different places when she was growing up, helping instill her with a wanderlust that lasted her whole life. The family moved from Custer to Missouri when she was young, followed by a time in Barrington, Illinois. Eventually, they settled for awhile in Fremont, Michigan, where Thelma began to attend high school.

Thelma was a very bright young woman, who excelled in school and in mathematics in particular. She also was a star on the school’s girl’s basketball team, becoming the captain despite her short stature. When she wasn’t hitting the books or shooting baskets, Thelma enjoyed swiming and going to dances, which were so popular in those days.

After graduating from Fremont High, the then-17-year-old Thelma moved to Grand Rapids, where she found work at various companies as a bookkeeper. Her family later followed her to Grand Rapids. Eventually she landed a bookkeeper’s job at York & Company, where her talents shined. She was an excellent, hardworking employee, with a gift for remembering facts and figures.

When Thelma was in her 20s, the country was thrown into the dark days of the Great Depression, which had a lasting impact on her, like it did for so many Americans. Living through those hard times taught her the true value of a dollar, and gave her a firm mistrust of the stock market. Throughout her lifetime, she knew exactly where every dime she had was, and where every dime she spent went.

Thelma was never a woman who made friends easily, though when she did make friends, she kept them for many years. She lived an active single life for many years, enjoying her freedom and the ability to do as she pleased. She was forever an animal lover, and had many canine companions over the years. Thelma also volunteered her time at the Humane Society, though she gave it up, because she couldn’t help but want to bring all the animals home with her!

After the end of World War II, Thelma’s friends introduced her to a friend of theirs named Nicholas “Bud” Meyer, who had just returned from service in the U.S. Army. Bud was three years younger than Thelma, but the two hit it off, and soon began dating.

Bud fell in love with Thelma and wanted to marry her, but she was very content with being single. After some convincing, she finally agreed to marry him, and they tied the knot on June 26, 1948, the beginning of a wonderful, 40-year marriage.

The couple moved quite often over the years, as Bud encouraged Thelma’s residential restlessness. They would move, fix up their new home for a time, and then pick up and move again, never staying in one place for very long.

The couple did keep a beautiful cottage in Trufant, Michigan, just a short drive north of Grand Rapids for them. Thelma loved it there, where she enjoyed swimming, boating, fishing, and the quiet solitude away from the hustle and bustle of her workweek.

Thelma began working at Grand Rapids Fabricators later in life, landing an excellent position as Vice President of the company. She excelled there, keeping a close eye on the books, and a firm grasp on the company’s operations in her leadership role. She remained there for 16 years, until she finally retired.

Thelma and Bud enjoyed some traveling in their retirements, going on senior tours and taking their trailer to Texas every year for more than a decade. After Thelma’s father passed away, she also lovingly took care of her mother the rest of her days.

Thelma enjoyed spending time with her extended family, and regaling them with her infamous stories of what she used to pay for certain things, and how much she made at different points in her long career.

Sadly, Thelma’s beloved Bud died in 1988, and she missed his companionship dearly. She grew even more restless than ever, and moved 14 times in the next 19 years, trying to find a place that felt like home without Bud by her side. Ever the animal lover she was, she did have a feline friend to keep her company, and traveled some with friends who had also lost their husbands.

As her years progressed, Thelma’s health began to decline, and her always-strong personality became even more pronounced. Always one to freely give her opinion and advice — a holdover from being the boss so long in her career — Thelma would say anything to anyone, with a defiance that could only come with age. It was a right she had earned, she reasoned.

In January of 2007, just before her centennial birthday, Thelma fell and hurt herself. She had amazingly lived on her own for the most part (and rarely needed many medications, either), but it became obvious she needed more care. So she moved to Hearthstone Assisted Living, where she died on Thursday, August 30, 2007, at the age of 100.

Thelma was a strong, and strong-willed woman, who spoke her mind and lived her life on her terms. She could be hard, but was never hard-hearted. Thelma was a loving wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend, and while she often gave a piece of her mind, she always kept us close at heart. She will be missed.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Nicholas “Bud” Meyer, in 1988. Thelma is survived by her nieces Bonnie (Ken) McNeil and Sharon (Robert) Ysseldyke and their families. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 1, 2007 at 11 AM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home- Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive. For those who wish, memorial contributions to the Kent County Humane Society are appreciated. To read more about her life or to share a memory, please visit www.lifestorynet.com