Thelma F. Neufeld April 12, 1933 – January 11.2009 A memorial service will be conducted by Peters Funeral Home for Thelma F. Neufeld, age 85, on Saturday, January 24th at the United Methodist Church in Wasco at 11:00a.m. Thelma was born on April 12, 1923, and grew up near Liberal, Kansas. She lived with her Dad, Herman, and two brothers, Al and Virgil Warkentine. She then lived with her Aunt Martha Copenhaver. Later the four Warkentines moved to Shafter around 1936. During this period she attended the First Mennonite Church in Shafter where she played the piano. There she met Ernest Neufeld who sang bass in the church quartet which Thelma accompanied on the piano. Thelma graduated from Shafter High in 1940. Later she attended night classes at Bakersfield College and business class at UCSB. Waiting until after her 18th birthday, Ernest and Thelma married May 16, 1941. They honeymooned on Catalina Island. Ernest was drafted into the army and served in El Paso and England and France, from 1942 to 1945. While Ernest was away, their first child Judith was born. In 1947 and 1948 their second and third children were born, Robert and Diane. Ernest and Thelma grew a business of farming potatoes, building a packing shed, which continued until 1964 when the Neufelds joined North Kern Packers Inc. Thelma managed the office there until the mid 80's when North Kern Packers was dissolved. Thelma was very involved and supportive of community and educational activities. She was a member and served as president of the Wasco Junior Woman's Club and Wasco Woman's Club for a total of more than 50 membership years. She was a member of the Wasco Recreation and parks Board from 1967 to 1973, past president and member of the Chapter JT PEO Sisterhood, was a member of the Kern County Cotton Wives, and honored as the Mother of the Year by the Wasco Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture in 1966. In addition, Thelma served on the Wasco Community Scholarship Association for many years. In 1990 she was awarded the Honorary Degree of Business Administration from Piedmont College after many years of service on the board of Piedmont College in Georgia. She was Grand marshal with Ernest for the Wasco Festival of Roses in 1993. She received an honorary life membership in the PTA. Thelma loved and supported Stars Dinner Theater and Bakersfield Music Theater. Thelma was an active member in the First Congregational Church in Wasco for over 50 years; she served as treasurer for more than 10 years. Later Ernest and Thelma joined the First United Methodist Church of Wasco. Ernest and Thelma Shared common interest in the State Department Program of Culture Exchange and the hosted many visitors from foreign countries. One foreign student from Brazil, Paulo Varchavtchik, who the couple hosted in 1964-65, now has a family of his own and has kept in close contact with the Neufelds throughout the years. Survivors are son, Robert D. Neufeld of Wasco and his wife, Pamela; daughters, Dr. Judith Hulse of Oakland, Diane Neufeld-Heck of Ocean View, Hawaii and husband Loren Heck; Brothers Virgil Warkentine of Seattle, Washington, and wife, Harriet, and Al Warkentine of Wasco, and wife, Doris; grandchildren Christa Hulse Miller of Oakland, and husband Rob; Nicolas and Justina Neufeld of Wasco; son, Dr. Paulo DIM Varchavtchik and wife Sandra of Sorocaba, Brazil; grandsons, Paulo Varchavtchik and wife, Deborah of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Luiz Varchavtchik and wife, Heather of Wichita; Guilherme Varchavtchik of Sorocaba and granddaughter, Maria Imhof and husband, Michael recently of Laredo, Texas; two great-grandchildren, Amanda of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Liliana of Wichita. Thelma has willed of her body to Loma Linda University School of Medicine. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the United Methodist Church, 1441 Seventh St., Wasco 93280, or the Waco Community Scholarship, P.O. Box 6, Wasco 93280. The family thanks Peters Funeral Home for their assistance at this time.