Thelma Minear, 94, of Grinnell died September 19, 2008, at Friendship Manor Care Center in Grinnell. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 23, at Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with the Rev. Len Eberhart, pastor of the Grinnell United Methodist Church, officiating. Pallbearers will be Michael Minear, John Pattschull, Jeff Babcook, Lani Leichty, Stan Hawk, Marty Minear, and Greg Minear. Burial will be in Hazelwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. Monday at the Smith Funeral Home and where the family will be present from 6:00 to 7:30 Monday evening. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Thelma Minear Burial Fund. The daughter of Manford L. and Dona Demry Noel, she was born September 14, 1914, in Unionville, Missouri. She was raised in Unionville and was a 1932 graduate of Unionville High School. On February 24, 1934, Thelma was married to Loyd W. Minear, in Lancaster, Missouri. The couple lived in Unionville and Kansas City, Kansas prior to moving to Grinnell in 1947. While in Unionville she was employed as an operator with a telephone company and then for several years she worked at Grinnell College. She was a member of the Grinnell United Methodist Church and was active with United Methodist Women and a church circle group. Thelma enjoyed spending time with her family, reading, and visiting with family and friends. Survivors include one daughter, Donna (Gary) Pattschull of Newton; one son, Jerry (Donna) Minear of Waukee; her daughter-in-law, Betty Jo 'Jake' Minear of Grinnell; one sister, Mary Novak of Grinnell; nine grandchildren; and nineteen great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son, Ronald Minear; and one granddaughter, Lori Reimers.