Thelma Colleen Chester

Thelma Colleen Swann Chester of Lenoir, NC passed away peacefully on June 7, 2023, and entered into her Heavenly home. Thelma was born on November 6, 1927, to the late Lloyd Anson Swann and Ella Mae Shytle Swann in Swain County, NC.

Her family relocated to Lenoir when she was two years of age where she has resided permanently. On November 29, 1947, Thelma married Andrew Hall Chester also of Lenoir. They were married for fifty-six years. After their retirement their happiest times were the many trips they would take to go “antiquing.”

Thelma was first employed at Belk Department Store in Lenoir for six years before

leaving to work for First Union National Bank as a bank teller. She remained with the bank for thirty years before retiring as a Management Service Coordinator with Wells Fargo (formerly First Union).

Thelma enjoyed doing crafts of all kinds. Just give her a needle and thread and she she was content for hours just as she later would do in her nineties with adult coloring. Up until her death she sat and colored for hours at a time. Before Congestive Heart Failure completely stole her from our lives she and her daughter would often sit and talk about the many days they would spend their lunch hours, walking to the various shops in Lenoir as Andrea worked close by. As her health declined they hung on to those precious memories.

Thelma was a member of Water life Church which she loved. She loved the more

contemporary Christian music and Pastor Todd Braswell’s messages. We used to laugh because she would often say she loved the music because she could hear it. In addition to her parents, Thelma was preceded in death by her husband and their infant son, Andrew Hall Chester Jr. She is survived by her daughter Andrea Chester Lovins; son in law Tommy Lovins; and the light of her life, grandson John-Andrew Thomas Lovins of Lenoir. Also surviving Thelma is special niece, Darlene Phillips. She also has many grand nieces and nephews and friends who survive her.

The family would like to say a special thank you to her lifelong friends, Jim and Dot Moser of Harrisburg, NC who have kept in touch with her and been a special part of her life for over 50 years. Special thanks also go to her “other family” at Carolina Rehabilitation of Icard, NC and Carolina Caring.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be sent to Water life Church in Lenoir, NC or Carolina Caring Hospice of Catawba Valley, 3975 Robinson Road, Building 3 Suite A, Newton, NC 28658.

There will be a public graveside service at Blue Ridge Memorial Park on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 11:00 AM.