Thelma B. Heck, 95, of Gnadenhutten died on Friday evening, May 13, 2016 at Community Hospice House of New Philadelphia. She was born on February 3, 1921 in Uhrichsville, Ohio. Her parents were the late Otis Emerson and Olive Aleta (Mummey) Tipton. Thelma graduated from Gnadenhutten High School in 1939. She married the late John V. Heck June 21, 1941. They were married 36 years before John died on July 7, 1977.

            Being a lifelong resident of the area, Thelma was involved in many things that happened in the area. She was a member of the John Heckewelder Memorial Moravian Church since 1948, where she was part of the Women’s Fellowship; she served on the board of elders several times, and was part of the candle makers who made beeswax candles for various Moravian Churches. Thelma was also part of the Gnadenhutten Senior Citizens. She worked at Office Appliance in Dover, and at the Gnadenhutten Bank, which is now 1^st National Bank of Dennison. But her foremost job was being a homemaker, wife, and mother to her three children. She enjoyed the lives of her children and grandchildren through many states from Pennsylvania to Minnesota, and all states in between. The events of their lives meant the world to her and to them. Thelma enjoyed the outdoors, loved fishing, and spending time with her nieces and nephews.

            She had a lifelong ministry of tracking the lives of all she met. She sent out as many as forty greeting cards per month and touched lives as far away as Austria.

            Thelma was mother to Barbara Ann (Pastor Bill) Gerber of Rockford, Illinois, John V. Heck Jr. of Ostrander, Ohio and Norma Jean Angelo (dec. June 6, 2002). She was grandmother to four, Anne (Shawn) Patton, Lt. Col. Brian (Jenny) Gerber, Matt (Liz) Gerber, and Colton Heck, great-grandmother to Isabelle Patton, Lila and Ty Gerber, and a great grandson that is on the way, and an aunt to numerous nieces and nephews. 

            Thelma was preceded in death by her husband, parents, a daughter, a sister Betty West, and a brother Robert Tipton.

            Services for Thelma will be held at 11 A.M. on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at the John Heckewelder Memorial Moravian Church, in Gnadenhutten with Rev. Darrell Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in New Philadelphia. Calling hours will be on Monday, May 16, 2016 from 7 to 9 P.M. and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be made to the John Heckewelder Memorial Moravian Church or Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County.