Thelma Aldean Wright Maples

Thelma Aldean “Wright” Maples went to be with her Heavenly Father on Good Friday, April 19, 2019.

Thelma was born on January 28, 1924 to Richard L. and Mary S. Wright in Stafford Kansas. Later their family moved to Dodge City where she and her sister Lauretta sang gospel music on a local radio station.  After years of drought, and then the dust bowl she and her family moved to Shelbyville, KY where her parents formerly lived.  There she graduated from Simpsonville High School and went on to take her nurses training at the Methodist Deaconess Hospital in Louisville.  She was honored by being one of two nurses, chosen from her class, to train to be a Cadet Nurse for the war effort. A few short months after her graduation the war ended and she was never deployed.

She then married David W. Maples on September 8, 1945 and lived in Louisville, KY where she worked as an RN at the Old Jewish Hospital until after the birth of her first child.  Later they moved to Sellersburg, IN where they raised their three children. In the 70’s she chose to go back to work and was an RN at St. Anthony’s in Louisville.  She loved traveling and fishing.

Thelma was a member of the Sellersburg United Methodist Church. While still attending she faithfully sang in the choir, many times coming straight from night shift at the hospital to church.

She was a former Education Chairman of the Clark County Chapter of the American Cancer Society.  She also demonstrated to local groups the proper procedure for checking oneself for breast cancer.  

She was a stanch Republican, past Vice Chairman of the Clark County Republicans, Clark County Republican Women and was Republican Woman of the Year.  Thelma’s love of politics was shown by her tireless efforts over the years of going door to door to register voters and working for decades at the polls, which she did until her stroke in 2007. She enjoyed going to the State Republican Conventions and meeting Governors Bowen, Orr, Senators Dan Quayle, Richard Lugar and many others.

Thelma also was a former member of the Phi Beta Psi, where she was a past president, The Salvation Army Nurses Fellowship, Greater Louisville Chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society, Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW, Sellersburg Order of the Eastern Star and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Eagles, where she was the Chaplin for many years.

Thelma was an Honorary Kentucky Colonel, by John Y. Brown, Sagamore of the Wabash by Governor Otis T. Bowen, 1977, and Governor Robert D. Orr, 1983 and Honorary Secretary of State by, Secretary of State, Edwin J. Simcox, 1981.

Mrs. Maples was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years David W. Maples, her parents, her brother William “Bill” Wright, and her sister Lauretta H. (Wright) Maples.

She is survived by her son, Terry L. Maples, (Patti) of Floyds Knobs, IN., daughter, Diane L. Geswein, (Gordon) Palmyra, IN, son Scott A. Maples, Sr., (Pam), Memphis, IN. five grandchildren, Carrie DeWitt (Bo), Scottie Maples (Morgan), Leanne Maples, Shane Maples, (Alicia), and David Geswein, four great grandchildren, Lucy, Aria, Emilee and Ryann, and her one remaining sibling, Shirley Ann (Wright) Carpenter of Frenchburg, KY.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at the Garr Funeral Home in Sellersburg with interment to follow at Sellersburg Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 2:00 P.M. Until 8:00 P.M. and on Wednesday from 9:00 A.M. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to Phi Beta Si (15981 Catalpa Cove Dr. Fort Myers, Florida 33908), The American Cancer Society (P.O. Box 22718 Oklahoma City Oklahoma 73123) and to the Sellersburg United Methodist Church (226 N New Albany Street Sellersburg, Indiana 47172).