Thelma Wyker Mowbray March 05, 1929 – March 17, 2019 Share this obituary Send Sympathy Gifts Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card MOWBRAY, Thelma Wyker, 90, ascended from this earth with grace and dignity on March 17, 2019. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 5, 1929, and grew up in Richmond, Va. Mrs. Mowbray was the eldest child of John Nicholas Wyker and Thelma Marguerite O’Brien Wyker.
She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 71 years, George Ernest Mowbray Jr. Theirs was a true love story. They met from afar in the hallway of Thomas Jefferson High School when Thelma was only 14 years old. After George’s service in the Navy during WWII, they married when she was 18 years old and George had just turned 21.
Thelma and George settled in Glen Allen, Va. , in 1953 with their young family and lived there happily until 1978, when upon George’s retirement at age 50, they relocated to Deltaville, Va. Thelma and George experienced many happy moments at their home, “Sand Castle,” located on the banks of the Rappahannock River near the Chesapeake Bay.
Thelma will be forever cherished by her grateful children, Christina M. Harris (Al), George E. “Ernie” Mowbray III (Pamela) and Cornelia “Corrie” M. Waugh (Richard). Eight grandchildren lovingly called her “Grandma,” Kelly M. Harris (Teresa), Andrew C. Harris (Ashton), Carrie Shiva M. Tigunait (Ishan), Whitney M. Cuthrell (Jason), G. Reid Mowbray, Joseph P. Law III (Heidi), P. David Zabrosky Jr. (Nicole) and Nicole Waugh Munden (Tyler). She was also blessed with eight great-grandchildren, Virginia and Will Harris, Jayanti Tigunait, Sadie and Drake Law, Elliott, Luke and Emmett Zabrosky.
Thelma is also survived by a dedicated brother, Franklin D. “Buddie” Wyker (Bobbie) of Urbanna, Va. Her remaining three siblings preceded her in death, Joyce Wyker, John N. “Jack” Wyker Jr. and Norma Mae Kirkland. She is also remembered by generations of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Anyone who met Thelma immediately recognized her kindness and gentle demeanor. She was a strong woman who worked very hard her entire life. Thelma was completely devoted to her husband and her family.
She will be remembered for her gorgeous rose bushes and numerous flower gardens. She was an outstanding cook. Before any holiday or family gathering, everyone would ask if Grandma was bringing her macaroni and cheese, her delicious green beans, her applesauce cake with coffee icing, her cheese biscuits or her chocolate or butterscotch pies with Dream Whip topping.
And most of all, her perfectly round chocolate chip cookies were a gift everyone wanted on Christmas or a special occasion. Thelma was also an avid fisherman. She would often be seen wearing her “Happy Hooker” cap with George on their fishing vessel, the “Love Boat”.
She always caught the first fish, and, if more than five minutes passed without a bite on her line, Captain George would move to another fishing spot! The family would like to express much love and gratitude to Doug and Cindi Adkins. Their daily visits and assistance to both Thelma and George epitomize the true meaning of caring neighbors.
We would also like to thank the doctors and staff of Riverside Walter Reed Hospital in Gloucester, the Riverside Gloucester Hospice Group and Amedisys Home Health Care for their loving and outstanding care of our Mother and Grandma. We would especially like to commend Commonwealth Senior Living-Gloucester House and their superior staff who made the last few weeks of Thelma’s life so special and safe. The family could not have survived without their support and love.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, in Forest Lawn Cemetery, 4000 Pilots Lane, Richmond. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that caring donations be made to shrinershospitalsforchildren.org or Shriners Hospitals for Children, Att: Office of Development, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Fla. 33607.
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