Thelma J. Studabaker, 84, of Bluffton, passed away on Friday afternoon, Aug. 8, 2025, at Parkview Hospital — Randallia in Fort Wayne.
Thelma was born on Nov. 9, 1940, in Fort Wayne to Virgil James and G. Iona (Pace) Sparks.
She attended Petroleum High School. She was a hard worker. She started working at the age of 16 at G. C. Murphy’s. She worked for Fryback’s Ice Cream and was instrumental in opening stores for K-Mart and Pak-A-Sak, along with working at the Toll Gate Motel. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was involved in Kate’s Kitchen. She loved spending time with her family and had a lifelong love for horses!
Thelma and Jimmie Dean Ramseyer were married from 1958 until 1979. Then in 1985, Thelma and James B. “Butch” Studabaker were married until his passing in 2005.
Survivors include her children, James B. Studabaker, II. of Bluffton, Sheila (John) Ramseyer-Flotow of Vera Cruz, Kristina (Paul) Patton of Avilla; a special niece, Vicki Hall of Bluffton; and a son-in-law, Gerry Sinks of Raleigh, North Carolina. She was a loving grandma to nine grandchildren, Amber Ramseyer, Richard Rodeheffer, Cody Ramseyer, Jason Sinks, Trystan Morey, Jessica Sinks, Brittany Mongeau, Cyara Mongeau and Zoey Kemp;malong with 9 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Jimmie Ramseyer; her second husband, James B. “Butch” Studabaker; a daughter, Linda Sinks; a son, Jerry Dean Ramseyer; and one granddaughter, Lilly Ewers; and a great-great-granddaughter, Luna Schlabach.
Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton and for one hour prior to the service.
Funeral services will take place at 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at the funeral home. Burial will take place at a later date at Six Mile Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Kate’s Kitchen in care of the First United Methodist Church or Grace & Mercy Ministries.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Lemler family of Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends may share online condolences with the family at www.thomarich.com.