Obituary of Thelma Rae DeWitt

Thelma Rae (Metheny) DeWitt, 80, of Terra Alta, WV, passed away peacefully at her home into eternity on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, with her beloved husband by her side. She was born on September 26, 1944, in White Oak (Terra Alta), WV, a daughter of the late William Lloyd Metheny and Nona Evelyn (Bolyard) Metheny. Thelma is fondly known as "Gold Dusty." She was a 1962 graduate of Terra Alta High School. She was a credit supervisor for the JCPenney Corporate Office in Pittsburgh, PA, and a credit analysis at First United Bank in Oakland, MD. Thelma flourished as a professional baker, making beautiful wedding cakes and pies, and a fantastic cook, making the best buckwheat cakes and deer steak. She enjoyed nature, being an avid gardener and loving all flowers, she had a beautiful voice and was a very talented alto vocalist. Thelma served as a lifelong member and an active member of the Faith United Methodist Church in Cranesville, WV. She held several positions in the church – Adult Sunday School teacher, member of the Ladies of Faith, and a member of the choir. Thelma is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Willard Allan DeWitt; sister, Carol White of Williamsport, MD; brother, Patrick Metheny and wife, Marilyn of Terra Alta, WV; two sisters-in-law, Carolyn Metheny of Terra Alta, WV, and Cosette Harmon and husband, Edgar of Oakland, MD; brother-in-law Leo McBee of Oakland, MD; a large number of loving nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces, and great-great nephews. In addition to her parents, Thelma is preceded in death by her brothers, Donald Metheny and wife, Ruth, and Stephen Metheny; sisters, Vera Dunson and husband, Edwin, and Priscilla Coppola and husband, Edward; brother-in-law, Robert White, and sister-in-law, Patty McBee. The family would like to extend a special thank you to all who brought food and stood by them over the last several years during Thelma's fight with Vascular Dementia. They would also like to say thank you to the wonderful hospice staff with Amedisys Hospice for the excellent care of Thelma. Friends may call at the Arthur H. Wright Funeral Home in Terra Alta, WV, on Friday, July 11, 2025, from 6:00pm – 8:00pm and on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at the Faith United Methodist Church, 6639 Cranesville Road, Terra Alta, WV, 26764, from 10:00am until the 11:00am time of service with Pastor Mike Saturday officiating. Interment will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.arthurwrightfuneralhome.com