Mrs. Thelma E. Conrey

Thelma Elizabeth (Gries) Conrey died suddenly at St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland on March 1, 2018. She was born July 11, 1917 in Holbrook, Maryland to Frank E. Gries and Edna B. (Day) Gries. She grew up on Wards Chapel Road. She was married to William Fletcher Conrey in 1968 after a long friendship and courtship. They were married for 25 years before his death in 1993. They lived on the Conrey Farm on the other side of Wards Chapel Road, just about 2 miles from where Thelma had grown up. They had known each other since high school. Thelma graduated from Catonsville High School and went on to graduate from Strayer Business School. Upon graduation, she took a secretarial position with the Strawbridge Home for Boys. After that, she took an executive secretary position with Olin Matheson Company in Baltimore where she worked for many years. When Thelma decided to leave Olin, she saw an ad in the paper for a job with CSX Railroad, applied and immediately was hired. She worked for the Chessie System until she retired in 1982 and loved every minute of it. She always said working for the Chessie System was the best move she ever made. Thelma had one sister, Mary Catherine, who predeceased her in 2001. Mary had three children, Deborah A. (Smink) Reno and husband Ronald, of Nashville, TN; Mary Catherine (Smink) Jenkins and life partner, David McClelland, of Hedgesville, WV; and Eckhardt S. Smink, Jr. and wife Linda, of Berlin, MD, who are Thelma’s surviving nieces and nephew. In addition, Thelma has four great-nephews, Brandon Reno, Justin Reno, Andrew Smink and Robert Smink, and six great-great nieces & nephew, Madalyn Reno, Chloe Reno, Autumn Reno, Alora Smink, Maya Smink and Gavin Smink. After her husband’s death, Thelma moved to Charlestown Retirement Community where she resided until the time of her death. She made many friends and was actively involved in life at Charlestown. She attended church, helped with the Sunday afternoon Chapel music programs, volunteered at the Treasure Sales, took many classes and trips and just enjoyed everything Charlestown had to offer. She was always attending classes even at the age of 100. In addition, Thelma had always, and continued to, enjoy music, playing the piano, reading, dancing, horse racing, golf and socializing with friends and family. She took trips to Ireland/Scotland with her nieces at 82, to San Antonio, TX. at 90 and to Nashville/Atlanta at 95. Before that she had traveled to Alaska with her friend, Thelma Sikorsky and to Europe with her cousin, Mary Day. She was always doing something and enjoyed everything she did. A memorial service will be held in her memory on April 18, 2018 at 12 noon at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel at Charlestown Retirement Community, 711 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, Maryland. Interment will be private. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607.

Mrs. Thelma E. Conrey

July 11, 1917 - March 1, 2018