Thelma R. Urban...1975 - 2015

Thelma R. Urban

Thelma R. (Glatz) Urban, 40, of Lake Wynonah, formerly of Coaldale, passed away peacefully Monday (June 22) morning at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center following a sudden illness.

Thelma was born in Coaldale on May 10, 1975.

She was the wife of Michael H. Urban, whom she married June 20, 1998, and with whom she had a son, Sean James, and a daughter, Violet Mary. She was the daughter of Ralston C. Glatz and the late Mildred (Lord) Glatz, Coaldale. Thelma was employed as a high school English teacher at Tamaqua Area High School since 2000.She was of the Jehovah Witness faith, belonging to the Kingdom Hall, Tamaqua.

She graduated from Panther Valley High School in 1993; graduated with honors from Bloomsburg University with a degree in Secondary Education in 1999; graduated with honors from Rosemont College with a master's in English and publishing in 2007. She was working towards her doctorate at Lehigh University.

With long blonde hair, a contagious laugh and a heart as beautiful as she was, Thelma was one-of-a-kind.

She volunteered for Big Sisters, Schuylkill Co., and several animal shelters.

She enjoyed her pets, reading and hiking. She liked watching Jeopardy, Steelers games and Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas.

And most especially she loved playing, dancing and snuggling with her children.

She could fix almost anything, had fought through hard times and appreciated the beauty all around her, especially in nature, books, music, art, flowers and people.

She enjoyed swimming from her pontoon boat and riding tilt-a-whirls.

She liked Guinness, fried pickles and chocolate.

She loved traveling, especially to Australia, Ireland, Seven Springs, Key West and many bed-and-breakfasts. But her favorite place was home with her family.

She cherished learning, mentored students, wrote amazing short stories and earned writing awards for literary analysis.

She helped many, and was most protective of underdogs.

She made life fun.

In addition to her husband, children and father, Thelma is survived by: sister Theresa, wife of Barry Veron, Lansford; sister Sonya Glatz, Emmaus; nieces and nephews: Genavie, Barry (Junior), Jr., Victoria, Stephanie, Sophia, and Leif; in-laws; Robert and Mary Urban, Lake Wynonah; brother-in-law, James and his wife Marlene Urban, Coaldale.

Service: Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses, 714 Golf Road, Tamaqua PA 18252. Family and friends are invited to call from 1-3 p.m. at the hall. Elder David Parke will officiate services. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Thelma Urban College Fund for Sean and Violet, 1654 Wampum Drive, Auburn PA 17922. Online donations can be made at https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/bb89/thelma-urban-college-fund-for-sean-and-violet.com. For more information or to extend online condolences visit www.shawnclarkfh.com. Shawn E. Clark Funeral Home, 200 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Published in Times News from June 23 to June 25, 2015