L. Newborn

Rock Island, Illinois
Thelma L. Newborn, 86, of Rock Island, Illinois, died Friday, May 4, 2007, in her home with her family by her side.
Services are 10 a.m. Wednesday at Christ Episcopal Church, 1717 8th Avenue, Moline, with Reverend Canon Ed den Blaauwen and Reverend James Allemeier co-officiating. Burial is in Moline Memorial Park. Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Parish Hall of the Church. Memorials may be made to the church or Trinity Pathway Hospice. Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline, is entrusted with arrangements.
The former Thelma Louise Weaver was born October 21, 1920, in Greensboro, Georgia, the daughter of Henry and Cornolia (Ward) Weaver. She married George D. Newborn on April 22, 1945, in Chicago. He died May, 1978.
In her earlier years she attended Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois, and Howard University in Washington, D.C. Her studies were placed on hold when she married and subsequently assumed sole responsibility of raising her three children. In the spring of 1974, at age 53, she enrolled in the Rochester Leader Dog School for the Blind in Rochester, Michigan. She returned 6 weeks later with a beautiful black Labrador named Sam. When asked what she was going to do, she stated she was going back to college to "become as smart as my children think they are". In 1978, at age of 58, she (and Sam) graduated from Augustana College, Rock Island. She was later hired and worked as a Social Worker for Information and Referral, a United Way Agency, for 15 years retiring in July of 1993.
Thelma Newborn was a strong, blind, stately woman, who was a spiritual pillar for all who knew her. Despite the many hardships she encountered through her life and the inconveniences of being legally blind, Thelma considered herself a richly blessed woman of God. Of all her accomplishments, she was most proud and thankful for her three children who are professionally successful and more importantly have fully embraced the same spiritual faith and commitment she inspired throughout their lives.
Thelma is survived by three children and their spouses, Pamela L. and Barry Tamres of Fresno, California, Barry A. and Jane Newborn of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Linda Newborn of Rock Island; eight grandchildren and their spouses, Lindsay and Josh Buckner, Joel Tamres, Samuel Tamres, Barry Jr. and Cindy Newborn, Lauren Hutton, Darin and Megan Newborn, Jason Newborn, and Kristin Newborn; and seven great-grandchildren.
Thelma?s family invited friends to sign her guestbook or light a candle in her memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.