Thelma Leona Roth Curry, age 101, of Udell, passed away Sunday, October 25, 2020 at MercyOne Medical Center, Long Term Care.

Thelma was born on October 22, 1919 in Appanoose County, Iowa, the daughter of Ross and Eva (Mudd) Starks.  In her younger years, she attended Udell schools.  She graduated from Centerville High School.  In 1940, Thelma was united in marriage to Clifford Burger, and to this union, three children were born, Stephen, Virginia, and Joe.  The couple later divorced.  She then married Newell Roth, and he preceded her in death in 1989.  In the mid 1990’s, she married Marlene Curry.  He also preceded her in death in 2015.

Thelma taught grade school throughout her life, including at the country school by Moulton, a country school north of Unionville, Iowa, Unionville schools, Moravia grade school, Grinnell schools, Eddyville schools, and finished her teaching career in the Oskaloosa school district, retiring in the early 1980’s. 

After retiring, Thelma received her pilot’s license, and enjoyed flying airplanes.  She also enjoyed playing cards and camping.  She loved being a “snow bird”, going south for 23 winters. 

Left to cherish Thelma’s memory are her children, Stephen (Karen) Burger of Moravia, Virginia (Dick) Dale of Bella Vista, Arkansas, and Joe (Wenlita) Burger of Cincinnati; seven grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren; and a niece, Connie Doud of Pleasant Hill, Iowa; and a nephew, Charles (Sandra) Brooke of Grinnell, Iowa. 

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, Ross and Eva Starks; her second husband, Newell Roth, her third husband, Marlene Curry; a sister, Marilyn Brooke, and a grandson, Isaac Ekman.

Graveside services will be held Friday, October 30, 2020 at 10:00AM at the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa, Iowa with Pastor Terry Chapman officiating. In lieu of flowers, Memorials have been established to either EveryStep Hospice or to Smile Train (my.smiletrain.org), and may be mailed to Lange Funeral Home and Crematory, C/O Curry Family, 1900 South 18th Street, Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be shared online at www.langefh.com.