Thalia C. Putney
January 28, 1935 - February 26, 2021
Obituary
MADISON - Thalia C. Putney (nee Little), of Madison, Wisconsin and Wilmington, Delaware died peacefully Feb. 26, 2021, at the age of 86 from cardiac issues.
Thalia grew up in southern New Jersey and graduated from Moorestown Friends School in 1953, and Earlham College in 1957. She played varsity sports in high school and college, and later played on the Delaware Field Hockey and New Atlantic Field Hockey Association teams. While a middle school science teacher at Wilmington Friends School from 1974-1992, she coached tennis and field hockey. Thalia was a great inspiration to countless girls in athletics, and was inducted into Earlham College's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.
Thalia cherished the outdoors and taught with the Delaware Nature Education Society from 1970-1995, inspiring many children to appreciate and respect our natural world. She was a Winterthur Museum Docent from 1969-1984. As someone with lifelong Quaker interests, she was involved with various meetings over the years, and was most recently active with the Moorestown Friends Meeting from 2005-2015. She was a lifelong photographer.
Thalia is survived by daughter, Laura Wright and her husband, Andy and daughter, Annie Putney; and two grandchildren, Tristan and Ted. She was predeceased by her son, Thomas B. Putney.
Due to current limitations on gatherings, we will not be having any services, but ask that everyone take a moment of silence in appreciation of Thalia: her cheerfulness, her kindness, and her love of nature and life.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local chapter of The Nature Conservancy, or a nonprofit environmental charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Fitchburg
Funeral & Cremation Care
2950 Chapel Valley Road
(608) 442-5002
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Memories
JJ
Jimmy Johnson
Other •
Mrs Putney was simply one of the best. Her honest and sincere kindness was resounding. A soul and goodness touched my life in a most profound way along with countless others. I am so thankful for my time with her. My love for her and my memories will console me, but I am still so very saddened. I love you and will always miss you Mrs Putney. May the four winds blow you safely home. RIP
KD
Karen Doerrler
Other •
I remember Thalia as being warm and welcoming to her children's friends when we would come over to play at the old house on Grubb Road in Wilmington. I don't remember a specific incident, more a feeling of being around someone good natured and patient, someone kind and caring. Rest in peace.
CL
Cheryl Lynn Lewis
Other •
I knew Thalia from 1993 to about 1997. We worked for an educational welfare to work program called First Step Employment and Training. It was housed within the Delaware Elwyn building on E 11th St. in Wilmington. We were a team of 6 women who shared the belief that given support, people could change their lives. Thalia was a positive and quietly forcefull in her approach. 90% of our students were African American or Latino. While on the surface, it would seem that Thalia couldn't be more different than her students or colleagues ( she was the only Caucasian woman on the staff) she was a natural at relating to other people in the purest, most honest and open heart. Everyone liked and respected her. Her kindness was so evident, even the most guarded participants eventually shared personal and important information that allowed her to evaluate and help so many students find their way off of public assistance, into sustainable jobs and/or enrollment in trade schools and junior college. I was privileged and enriched in knowing her.