Thelma and Orbra

By Linda L. R. Bennett

Basically this book could be considered a prequel to GOD, The CAT AND I by the author. However the focus is on the lives Thelma and Orbra shared together.

“With respect for them, I will attempt to share a portion of what I learned from watching them or from accounts gleaned from their profound character, which showed the essence of their living, is the intent of this writing.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Jul 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781489735898

Linda L. R. Bennett

After retiring as Library Director at a community college, writing about life events became a new venture for Linda resulting in three short books and this fourth composition. Linda is a widow with two adult married daughters and four young adult grandchildren. She presently lives in a small town in Arkansas but, in the past, she also lived in Missouri and Tennessee

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 Linda L. R. Bennett.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by

any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system

without the written permission of the author except in the case of

brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

LifeRich Publishing is a registered trademark of

The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

LifeRich Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.liferichpublishing.com

844-686-9607

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or

links contained in this book may have changed since publication and

may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those

of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,

and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are

models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are

registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering

of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3590-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3589-8 (e)

LifeRich Publishing rev. date:   07/13/2021

Contents

Preface

Background

Thelma Camilla Marchant

Charles Orbra Richardson

Expanding Horizons

New Adjustments

Moving On

New Hurdles

Growing and Going

Retirement

Later Years

Departures

Who Were Thelma and Orbra?

Appendix I

ABCs of Thelma and Orbra’s life lessons –

Appendix II

Appendix III

Preface

YEARS AGO THIS composition would have not come into existence. Thelma and Orbra lived unassuming unpretentious lives. Neither of them ever created a painting, wrote a book nor amassed great wealth and recognition but lived simply without any fanfare; their riches came from an inner strength which cannot be defined. Either or both would have discouraged undue attention about who they were. Nonetheless their story is worth telling. With respect for them, and maybe some reluctance, I will attempt to share a portion of what I learned from watching them or from accounts gleaned from their pasts. Capturing the nobility and profound character, which showed the essence of their living, is the intent of this writing.

Background

THELMA AND ORBRA were married for almost sixty years; Orbra died in July before their sixtieth wedding anniversary in December of that year. Thinking of them in separate terms is probably alien to those of us who were an integral part of their lives. However they were individuals with different backgrounds and personalities tracing before their marriage. Those differing attributes remained with them and permeated the forces in later years sometimes guiding the directions they took.

In order to define each one, first revelations about Thelma and Orbra will be relayed to give flesh and substance from pre-marriage accounts of their lives until the demise of each one. Thus the following will provide remembrances for each one individually and collectively for the two later on in their story.

Thelma Camilla Marchant

INSIGHT INTO THE life of Thelma can be determined from recollections of her childhood. She was just a few years older than the youngest child of Mary Della Tate Marchant and John Sherman Marchant. She had four siblings, three sisters and one brother, Mayme, Melda, Jim Dick and Ruth. All of the children had black hair and brown eyes with dark complexions except Thelma who had soft brown