Thelma Popp Jones, 93, passed away on Aug. 16, 2016, at her home in Oneonta, N.Y.
Thelma was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on Dec. 15, 1922, and spent her childhood there. She earned a degree from Buffalo State Teacher's College in 1944. While at college her sister, Alice, set up a blind date with Gordon Jones, who was studying at Cornell. A good relationship started then but after graduating she wanted some adventure before settling down.

Thelma and a girl friend set out on a grand adventure of bicycling from Buffalo to the Mississippi River. When they reached Louisville they got jobs as maids on a boat that towed barges and traveled up and down the river a couple of times on it. With a deadline of starting a teaching job in September they finally left the river in New Orleans and headed north. But since time was short they traveled by truck more than bike to get home in time.

Her first teaching job was in upstate N.Y. Next Thelma got a teaching job in San Diego for a year. Finally, Gordon won out over all the sailors out there and she agreed to marry him in 1946. They began their married life in Geneva N.Y., moved to Penn Yan, N.Y, then to Oyster Bay N.Y., retired to Stanley N.Y. and finally moved to Oneonta N.Y.
After getting married, Thelma taught for a couple of more years before devoting her time to being a mom. The essence of her life was her family. After their four children were grown she returned to teaching and retired at age 70. Thelma had the reputation with her fellow teachers of being the go-to person for nature questions. She loved to do nature themed projects with her classes - incubating eggs, making natural dyes, hatching frog eggs, art work using seeds and shells. She was a teacher to her core and even in her 90s loved to be with young children. Dedicated to community service, she led scout and 4H groups, delivered Meals on Wheels for many years, volunteered in a community lunch program, tutored in adult literacy and ESL programs. She was honored at Buffalo State Teacher's College in 2005 with a senior service award. Her final service effort was sewing six little sun dresses with fabric donated by a friend for children in Haiti after the earthquake.

Thelma and her husband, Gordon, were very inquisitive about other cultures. They hosted several students from overseas and traveled extensively.

She is survived by her children, Susan (James) Gradziel, Thomas (Liping) Jones, Robin (Jose) Medina, Peter (Gabriele) Jones; grandchildren Lisa Gradziel, Michael (Joy Liu) Gradziel, Kailin Jones, Kairei Jones, Molly Medina, Leia Medina, Sarah (Evan) French, Lillian Jones, Emma Jones; great-grandchildren Norman and Marlon Gradziel.
The love of her life, Gordon (almost 67 years of marriage), predeceased her in 2013. She is also predeceased by her parents, Edwin and Matilda Popp; sister, Alice Whitaker; grandson, Kaiwen Jones; granddaughter, Kathryn Jones; and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Walsh Jones.

Burial will be private. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lhpfuneralhome.com. The Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home in Oneonta is assisting the family.