Ursula Thacker

Ursula Hulda Louise Schuster Thacker, a resident of Salemtowne Retirement Community in Winston-Salem formerly of Park Street, Lexington, passed away Thursday, April 9, 2015 at the Hinkle Hospice House. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 18, at 2 pm in the Saal at Salemtowne, 1000 Salemtowne Drive, Winston-Salem. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Officiating will be Chaplain Linda Browne of Salemtowne, Dr. Ray N. Howell III and Rev. Tommy Wilson of First Baptist Church, Lexington. Ursula Thacker was born April 22, 1922, in Kearny, New Jersey, to Fritz and Elsbeth Koenig Schuster who predeceased her. She was also predeceased by her husband of fifty-five years, Frank Arrington Thacker, and her only sibling, Fred Albert Schuster. Prior to her marriage in 1955, Ursula lived and worked for several years in New York City. She held a variety of administrative positions and considered her work at the World Council of Churches her most rewarding professional affiliation. After her marriage, Ursula was primarily a homemaker and enjoyed cooking, bridge, painting and volunteering. She also was a free-lance writer with works featured in The Upper Room, The Christian Home, Sunshine Magazine, Our State (NC) and Muse. In 2009, she published a novelette entitled, Just Emily and was working on a non-fiction novel at the time of her death. Ursula was a life-long learner, an advocate for the higher arts and encouraged many young women to pursue their academic and professional aspirations. She taught creative writing courses at the Davidson County Community College for several years and was a member of the Davidson County Writer’s Guild. Ursula believed in supporting local missions and volunteered with Meals on Wheels, Crisis Ministry, Contact, the Prison Ministry and the American Children’s Home. She was also an advocate for women, minorities and underserved populations. Ursula was a woman of great faith and an active member of St. Timothy’s United Methodist Church, Lexington, for twenty five years where she served as a Sunday school teacher, youth group and lay leader. She was also involved in the United Methodist Women’s organization. In her later years, Ursula was a member of First Baptist Church, Lexington, where she particularly enjoyed the Bible Study sessions taught by Dr. Ray N. Howell III. After relocating to Salemtowne in 2011, she found great spiritual support through the services and teachings offered by Chaplain Linda Browne. Surviving are her two daughters, Laura Owen and husband Brad of Lexington and Beth Thacker and husband Promyse Benibo of Lubbock, Texas; four grandchildren, Jessica Jackson, Rachael Owen, Kathryn Blair Trexler and Blessing Benibo; two great grandchildren, Rance and Rylan Jackson; and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the exceptional staff at Salemtowne Retirement Community whom she loved. While a resident, Ursula particularly enjoyed Gemeinschaft, Sparkcatchers, many precious and new-found friendships and frequent walks in the courtyard adjoining her apartment. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, 1811 Capital Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27635; The Salemtowne Campus Improvement Fund, 1000 Salemtowne Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27106; or Hospice of Davidson County, 200 Hospice Way, Lexington, NC 27292.