Thelma Eilene (Fenn) Hipp, 93, passed away Dec. 9, 2019, at Lake Point Assisted Living, Wichita. She was born on July 25, 1926, at Great Bend, the daughter of Ernest A. and Katherine Ella (Drehle) Fenn.
She married Joseph Lawrence Hipp on her 22nd birthday, July 25, 1948 in Great Bend. They were married for 31 years until his death on Dec. 9, 1979.
Thelma was a Great Bend resident until 2013 when she moved to Wichita to be closer to her children. She graduated from Great Bend High School with the Class of 1944 and attended St. John’s Lutheran College in Winfield. Thelma was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend, Trinity Ladies Fellowship, Rebecca Circle, adult Sunday school class, usher and greeter at church, Monday Morning Bible Study Group, helped organize the 55 plus group and was chairperson of the participation teams. She occasionally helped with the quilting of the church quilts.
Survivors include, two sons, Vincent Hipp and wife June of Springfield, Ohio, and Paul Hipp and wife Becky of Great Bend; two daughters, Rose Hammerschmidt and husband Marion of Bartlesville, Okla., and Shirley Buchanan and husband Russell of Wichita; sister-in-law, Louise Fenn of Mulvane; 18 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joseph Lawrence Hipp; three sons, Ernest Hipp, Henry Hipp and Marvin Hipp; and one brother, Elmer Fenn.
Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Jon Brudvig presiding.
Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Trinity united Lutheran Church, VFW Post #3111, or Lake Point Assisted Living, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.