Thelma Marie (Colestock) White of Halltown, Mo., died April 13 in The Maples Nursing Home, Springfield, Mo. Thelma was born July 7, 1926 in Rush County, Indiana to Raymond Lee and Wilma (Bowles) Colestock. On April 21, 1953, she married Jerry E. White who survives her. She is also survived by a daughter, Anne (Jim) Roth of Washington, Mo.; two grandsons, Jason (Janette) Roth of El Paso, Texas, and Cory Roth of Bloomington, Ind.; and a sister, Marjorie (Dale) Siders of Rushville Ind. Other survivors include two sisters-in-law, Evelyn Colestock of Indianapolis, Ind., and Georgia White of Halltown, Mo.; three nieces and four nephews. Her parents; a sister, Betty June Boyd; a brother, Norman Colestock; and a brother-in-law, Stanley L. White, preceded her in death. After graduating from Arlington High School, Arlington, Ind., she attended Cincinnati Bible Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio, for two years before transferring to Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Mo., where she earned a Bachelor of Arts. She also attended graduate school at Fort Hays Kansas State College, Hays, Kan.; Southwest Missouri State, Springfield, Mo.; Central Missouri State College, Warrensburg, Mo.; University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., and Southeast Missouri State College, Cape Girardeau, Mo. During her time at Ozark Christian College she served as a representative of the college by singing for revivals, in churches and Christian service camps. After her marriage to Jerry, she continued to use her musical abilities as the wife of a minister. She and Jerry traveled to churches throughout the state in the late 1960's to raise support for the establishment of Show-Me Christian Children's Home, a ministry which continues to expand and help more children each year. Thelma was an educator in Missouri for 24 years. She taught English in three school districts and was school librarian in two school systems. Retiring from education in 1985 gave her more time to devote to Whitehall Mercantile, the antiques and collectibles store on Route 66 in Halltown, Mo., which she and Jerry owned. This eventually led to her interest in Route 66 and she became a founding member of the Route 66 Association of Missouri. People from all over the world stopped in the shop for a chance to visit with "the godmother of road," as she was named in one newspaper article. Being a good listener, having a kind heart and displaying a great love for Jesus, her Savior, are some of the qualities that drew so many people to Thelma. Her family and friends will miss her daily presence. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 16, in Gorman Scharpf Funeral Home, 1949 E. Seminole, Springfield. Services will be held Saturday, April 17 at 1 p.m. in the Halltown Christian Church, Halltown Mo. Preferred memorials are to Alpha Christian Children's Home, PO Box 727, Perry KS 66073-0727.