“Thank you for being my mother”
Sue Arline Thelen, of California, and formerly of Wartrace, passed away Friday, Dec. 27, following a short bout with cancer, at the home of her son, Terry, and daughter-in-law, Heather.
Sue was born in Ardmore, Okla. At a young age, her family moved to Hawthorn, Calif. She grew up in Hawthorn and graduated from Hawthorn High School.
After marrying and rearing 3 kids in Southern California, Sue retired and moved to Bell Buckle to start a new chapter in her life. She spent the next years as a bed and breakfast host and owner. She began with Spindle House, Chenille House and then the Gore House in Shelbyville.
Eventually, retirement number two came and she bought a house in Wartrace. She became involved in the local play house community.
Sue enjoyed acting and directing in many plays at Fly Community Arts Center. She would take any job to help out and be involved in the plays. She was a teacher and mentor. She would eventually become Arts Council director.
After many successful years, retirement number three came. Sue eventually moved back to California, where she enjoyed her last years with family, gardening and watching birds, squirrels and bunnies from her porch.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Orbin Spindle and Sue Howard and daughter, Jeri Lynn Kastler.
She is survived by son, Chris, and daughter-in-law, Judy Thelen; son, Terry, and daughter-in-law, Heather Thelen; grandchildren, Christopher Gajdatsy, Tracey (David) Beard, Jacob (Jubilee) Thelen, Gabriel Thelen and Alex Kastler; great-grandchildren, Brooke, Bridgett, Felicia, Brennen, Andrew, Evie, Jason and Titus; great-greats, Evan, Elliot and Mason.
The family requests that you all remember Sue in your daily lives and celebrate her with your friends and family.
