Thelma Knutson Schuler April 29, 1925 - Feb. 21, 2023

Thelma Knutson Schuler Long-time Porterville native, Thelma Knutson Schuler, has passed peacefully at the age of 97. Born in 1925, Thelma attended grammar school at the old Vandelia School and also Bellevue Elementary. She was then part of the first graduating class at Bartlett Junior High. When she attended Porterville High School, she played tennis and softball on the girls' teams and was part of the graduating class of 1943.

Thelma and two of her sisters trained as bank tellers, and Thelma worked for several years at the Security Bank on Main Street, where she was to meet her future husband, Richard "Dick" Schuler. After their marriage in 1946, Thelma and Dick began their married life in an apartment over Hammond's Studio on Main Street. When describing this time in her life, one could hear in this description a young woman living a very new and adventurous life in comparison to the more rural lifestyle of her childhood. Her Italian mother had always maintained a large garden, milk cow, huge flock of chickens, and several fruit trees, in this way managing to feed the large Knutson clan through the Depression. So, Porterville Main Street must have felt like real city living!

Shortly after their marriage, Thelma and Dick opened a drive-in called the Dairy Lane, which became a popular hangout for High School students to gather around the juke box after dragging Main. Thelma served as a short order cook and manager of this business over the next few years, while Dick began developing businesses of his own starting with a roofing business, and later starting Schuler Construction. During these years Thelma took some business classes at Porterville Junior College, and upon the sale of the Dairy Lane, she then spent several years in the receptionist/bookkeeper role for Dick's roofing business. Both Dick and Thelma were avid golfers, and Thelma was the Women's Golf Champion for multiple years at the Porterville Municipal Golf Course.

Thelma is survived by her four children, Candy Schuler Carlberg, Richard "Rick" Schuler (wife Karen), Terry

Schuler(wife Mimi), and Casey Schuler. Surviving family also includes the nephew and niece of her oldest brother, Fred and Norita Knutson, and the daughter and son of her sister, Linda Montgomery (husband Harold) and Gary Atkin. She leaves 6 grandchildren, Hans Carlberg, RJ Schuler, Cody Schuler, Dillon Schuler, Zachary Schuler, and Madison Schuler, as well as 5 Great Grandchildren, Kai Carlberg, Brynn Carlberg, Marlie Schuler, Brayden Schuler, and Scarlet Schuler.

The ability of Thelma to gather family inclusively and lovingly into her home was a gift, and her relationships with extended family endured time. Of all of these, she is survived by Terri Lee Guthrie (former daughterin-law), Daphne Sorey (former daughter-in-law), as well as Robin Harward, Kenneth Vossler, Kyle Vossler, and Oliivia Bennet (grandchildren).

Services for Thelma will be held on March 3rd, 1:00, at Myers Funeral Chapel in Porterville, followed by internment at Hillcrest Cemetery, and a meal for all at 11015 Road 256, Terra Bella. A viewing will be held on March 2nd, from 3:00 to 7:00, at Myers Funeral. myersfuneral.com