Thelma Dorris Forstner Varnell, 88, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed from our sight to be with our Lord August 21, 2019. She was born to parents Ernest Watkins Forstner and Edna Earl Ament Forstner, on December 17, 1930, in Sweeten's Cove, South Pittsburgh, Tennessee.

Thelma attended City High School in and many years later she went on to study Early Childhood Development at Chattanooga State Community College and graduated with an Associate Degree.

She worked as a dental hygienist, dental, ophthalmic, and surgery assistant in Chattanooga's health care industry for 30 years. After retirement to care for her husband, she volunteered at Grace Church and at adult daycare facilities.
She enjoyed her family most of all, but also loved reading, singing in the church choir, kitty cats - particularly Siamese, gardening and raising flowers, and travel. She loved her Lord with all her heart, all her mind, and all her soul!

Thelma met Charles Deward Varnell in 1946. They were married on 1948 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Together they had 4 children: Theresa Suzanne, Charles Richard, Edna Claire, and Brian Timothy. Charles Richard was born and died the same day in 1951.

Thelma is survived by daughters Suzanne Varnell Smith and her husband Kinne Smith of Chattanooga, Claire Varnell Bradford of Murfreesboro, Brian Timothy Varnell and his wife Joy of Birmingham, grandchildren Patrick Elliott Henry and his wife Lauren, Rachel Henry Cleghorn and her husband Will, Paul Watkins Henry and his wife Erica, Drew Colin Bradford and his wife Marjorie, Peter James Bradford, Elizabeth Lauren Varnell, and Daniel Brian Varnell, and great grandchildren Liam, Hudson, Harper, Amber and Timothy, niece Kay Forstner Cullis of Chattanooga and sister-in-law Hailey Forstner of Chattanooga.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ernest Watkins Forstner and Edna Earl Ament Forstner, son Charles Richard Varnell, born and died 1951, husband Charles Deward Varnell 1924 - 1998, brother Horace Milton Forstner 1924 - 2005 and his wife Reita Joy 1925 - 2011, brother Charles Manning Forstner 1911 – 1990, sister Grace Amanda Forstner born 1916, nephew Horace Forstner, Jr., 1943 – 1967, and son-in-law Kendall Clark Morton (Claire's husband) 1945 – 2014.

Visitation for family and friends will begin at 12:00pm EDT, followed by the Episcopal service for the burial of the dead at 1:00pm EDT, Saturday, August 31, 2019, at Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Avenue, Chattanooga, TN, 37411. Commendation and Committal will take place at 2:30 p.m. EDT at the Varnell Cemetery, Varnell Lane, Ooltewah, TN 37363. The Reverend April Berends will officiate.

Flowers are acceptable and kind but donations to Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37211 ("In Memorial for Thelma Varnell") were Mom's request.

"Life is true, life is real, and death is not it's goal. From dust you are and to dust you returneth was never said about the soul."