Visitation: 6:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Location: Weymouth Funeral Home
Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m., Thursday, June 8, 2017
Location: Weymouth Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Peninsula Memorial Park
Thelma Parker McQuillen passed away at her home Friday June 2, 2017. Thelma had been a resident of Mennowood Retirement Community in Newport News for the past ten years.
Thelma was born September 30, 1923 in Warwick County, Virginia “now Newport News”. She was preceded in death by her Mother, Louise Hopkins Parker; her Father, Arthur James Parker; and her loving Husband, William McQuillen. She was the last of eight brothers and sisters to pass. She is survived by three sons and their wives, Don and Debbie McQuillen of Newport News, Ronald and Debbie McQuillen of Hampton, and William and Cheryl McQuillen of Chesapeake; 4 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.
Thelma graduated from Morrison High School, now Warwick High School, in 1942. She then went on to graduate from Columbia Bible College in Columbia, South Carolina in 1946, where she majored in Christian Theology and Education. After graduation, she worked as a missionary, teaching young children of Ozark, Arkansas Bible classes. Thelma was married on October 30, 1948 to William McQuillen Sr. and both Husband and Wife returned to Arkansas to finish that school year before moving back to Warwick County.
Throughout her life she had the passion to teach. In the 1950’s and early 60’s she taught sixth grade at Copeland Park Elementary School. After moving to King and Queen County in the early 60’s, she returned to teaching at York Academy.
Her biggest passion in life was teaching Bible classes and being involved in Church work and activities where she took on many women leadership roles. After retiring to Currituck, North Carolina with her husband, she continued working well into her 80’s with the United Methodist Church and serving as a North Carolina State Board Member of the United Methodist Women.
The life Thelma would live was summed up in her senior yearbook at the Morrison High; the Principal wrote, “A good heart is worth gold. Sincere and Sweet, Thelma with her pure beliefs and high ideals stand as a shrine of the best”.
All that knew and or met her knew the unyielding love she had toward our Lord that she constantly had within her.
The family will receive friends from 6-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at Weymouth Funeral Home. A Funeral Service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, June 8, 2017 in the Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Peninsula Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to give contributions to The Mennowood Foundation at 13030 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA 23602. Arrangements are by Weymouth Funeral Home.