Obituary of Thelma Body

Thelma LaVerne Altizer (Wright) Body, of Roanoke a woman of faith and prayer, met her beloved Lord and Savior face to face at 10:22 p.m. Tuesday, November 5, 2013. She loved God, family and friends, and always did the best she could for all. She was born March 11, 1929 in Roanoke, Va. the daughter of Eslie Henry and Bede Altizer (Jones), and the stepdaughter of Everette Floyd Jones. She was a Roanoke girl through and through, a member of the Golden Colonels of William Fleming High School and a member of Oakland Baptist Church since her childhood. She was an X-ray Technician, trained at both Lewis Gale and Jefferson Hospitals; a medical transcriptionist at Community Hospital and a secretary at OAB Realty. However, she always said her greatest joys in life was as a wife and a mother to 5 "lil" Wrights. She was married to Garland C. Wright, Sr. from 1952 to 1976; and then was married to Dennis W. Body, Sr. from 1977 until his death in 2006. Her children are, daughters and husbands, Diane and Bill Bowser, Denise and John Weaver, Donna and Joe Paradiso, and Dana and Bobby Robertson, and her son, the late Garland C. Wright, Jr. Her grandchildren are, Brian Bowser and wife Corinne, Phillip Bowser and wife Sheron, Haley and Christopher Ingram, Marco Antonio and Francesco Paradiso, Tori Robertson, and Lauryn Marshall. Her great grandchildren are, Olivia and Isabella Marshall and Xander and Amelia Bowser. Also surviving are a nephew, Mark Altizer with whom she shared a very special "mother and son" bond; and special cousins, Sandra Parrish and Heidi Altizer Willis. Her dearest friends include "Sis" Dathnea and Shorty Sink, Eileen and Tracy Wright, many church friends, her Delta Sigma Chi Sorority sisters and childhood and community friends. The family thanks Brandon Oaks Nursing Home, Unit 2, and Lewis Gale Hospital for the care for mom and family. A special thank you to Kristina Brown, Home Instead who blended the professional skills of a caregiver with the personal touch of a devoted friend. Thelma's greatest legacy was her strong faith and prayer life lived out before others every day. Everyone knew that when Thelma prayed, God 'specially listened. Her daily verse was Ps. 118:24 taught to her children form their childhoods. This verse sustains us during our great loss at her death, knowing that God places joy in each day. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Oakland Baptist Church 3623 Roundhill Avenue Roanoke, Va. 24012. A celebration of her life will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 9, 2013 at Simpson Funeral Home 5160 Peters Creek Road with Dr. Scotty Carpenter officiating. Interment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday at Simpson Funeral Home. 366-0707 Our deep sorrow at this time is lifted by the thoughts and prayers of friends and family and God's comforting words that in Heaven all tears are wiped away and we will one day be united with mom and loved ones again.