Velma “Thelma” I. Coverstone, 83, Columbia City, passed away at 2:33 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne. Born Dec. 28, 1933 in Kosciusko County, she was the daughter of Robert A. and Mildred (McCullough) Pratt.

She graduated from Columbia City High School with the Class of 1951. That same spring, she married Earl “Skip” Coverstone on March 16th at the home of Cecil and Vesta Knapp. She had worked over 25 years at Farris Nursing Home.  With a strong faith, she had attended Victory Christian Church for over 40 years and a few years at South Whitley Family of God until her health declined.

Known to several as Susie, Thelma and Skip lived on a farm in rural Columbia City before moving to South Dakota for a few years. They returned to live at her present home in 1971. She was quite the seamstress and made clothing, Barbie clothes, quilts, embroidered and crocheted. Living on the farm she tended to her garden and canned what she grew. She was an excellent cook, baker and candy maker.  Thelma enjoyed traveling with her husband. Her favorite place was in Arkansas but also going out west and visiting Arizona along with Mexico.

Survivors include her daughter, Barbara (David) Fulk, of Churubusco; sons, Jan Coverstone, of Columbia City and Robert Coverstone; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and sister, Donna Buda.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements with DeMoney-Grimes, 600 Countryside Dr., Columbia City. Memorial donations may be made in her memory towards her final expenses I.C.O DeMoney-Grimes or to Voice of Evangelism or South Whitley Family of God.