Thelma Irene Billings Spivey age 92 of Galax, Virginia passed away Tuesday April 11, 2023 in the Commonwealth Senior Living in Hillsville, Virginia.

Mrs. Spivey was born on September 12, 1930, in Troutdale, Virginia to Wint and Lessie Mae Waddell Billings. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Ewell Edgar Spivey and four brothers Breece Waddell; L.C. Billings; Frank Billings and Curtis Billings. When she was about three weeks old they moved to West Virginia. It was during the Depression and jobs were very scarce, but the coal mines needed workers, so her dad worked at several mines.

When World War II started, the three older brothers were either called or enlisted in service and were shipped into battle. God protected them and final brought all three home, although one was badly wounded.

In 1945, just before the ending of the war, her parents separated and her mother brought Thelma  and her baby brother to Galax to live.

She graduated from Woodlawn High School in 1948 with honors at the top of her class. She started work at Harris Marshall Hosiery Mill. She started dating Ewell Spivey, who was in the Army. They were  married September 18, 1951. Ewell was shipped to Germany in October. Thelma continued working and overseeing the building of their home. She kept very busy as she loved cooking, making candy, gardening, canning, making crafts, etc. She wanted to have a nice home when Ewell returned.

Although she was not able to attend college early in her life she had a yearning to learn; so she took night classes in typing, bookkeeping, flower arranging, cake decorating and finally at 70 years old, she started taking computer classes, especially loving to "pull up" recipes and trying them out. She would make them and send "samples" to her neighbors.

At age 37, Thelma finally was able to go into nursing classes in Pulaski, Virginia. She was chosen to "sit" on the Board when New River Community College was in its infancy and received the honor of being awarded the 1 ^st diploma ever issued from the college. Before ever taking State Boards, Dr. William Waddell hired her to work at Galax Medical Center, where she continued until she had to have back surgery and could no longer work. Those were some of her most enjoyable years. Her health continued to decline as she took care of her husband, who died with malignant melanoma of the face and head.

Finally, her health declined and she has spend the last few years in nursing homes, always still attending church at Cliffview as her health allowed. She dearly loved her church and had attended for over seventy five years, never wanting to fail her Savior.

Her heart's desire was to see everyone come to the Lord, so each of you are invited to go see Her. Please Be Ready.

She is survived by a sister-in-law Polly Billings; twelve nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held Friday at 2:00 PM in the Cliffview Church of God with Pastor Jackie Poe officiating. Burial will follow in the Monta Vista Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from 1:00 PM until time for the funeral service at the church.