LASSELSVILLE, NY- Mrs. Thelma E. Miles, 93, passed away on April 4, 2012 at Little Falls Hospital with her loving family at her side .She was born on September 4, 1918, in Mohawk, daughter of the late Edward and Mabel (Vroman) Eckhart. On December 28, 1941 she was united in marriage with Walter E. Miles in Stockbridge, MA. Their loving union lasted 37 years until his passing on June 14, 1978. Thelma attended Elementary and Junior High School in Mohawk before moving to Oneonta where she graduated from High School in 1936. She graduated from the State Normal School in Oneonta in 1939 with a certificate to teach elementary grades. She was a member of the Clionian Sorority. Thelma later earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the State University of N.Y. Teacher's College at Oneonta. Upon graduating from Normal School , Thelma was hired to teach in the newly formed Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School District. She taught in several one room rural schools during this time. In the 1950's she took a leave of absence and stayed home to raise a family. In 1954 Thelma returned to teaching. She taught 3rd Grade in the Central Building until retiring in June, 1976 after over 30 years of service. Thelma was a 43 year member of the St. Johnsville and Fort Plain Chapters, NSDAR. She was a member of the Alumni Association of the State University of Oneonta, the Herkimer County Historical Society and the Town of Ephratah Historical Society. She was an honored member of the N.Y. State Retired Teacher's Association and a Lifetime Member of the Fulton County Retired Teacher's Association, the Western Fulton County Senior Citizens Club and the Palatine Settlement Society. She was a Patron of the Margaret Reaney Memorial Library in St. Johnsville and an Associate Member of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. In her later years she thought that she might be the last survivor of the original faculty (1939) of the Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School. Thelma is survived by her son Donald and his wife Kathryn of Lasselsville who lived next door to her on Miles' Family property. Their care and attention allowed Thelma to maintain and enjoy staying in her own home. She is also survived by her brother Lewis and his wife Mary of Tallahassee, FL; her nieces: Leslie Hardy and her husband Steven of Tallahassee, FL, Melinda Howell and her husband Todd of Orlando FL, her nephew Jason and his wife Dawn of Richmond, VA and and her cousin Carol Uhm and her husband William of Seminole, FL. Survivors also include her step family, a granddaughter Sherry Diamond and her husband Thomas of Chuluota,FL; a grandson Terry Cuffel and his wife Martha, and great granddaughters: Stephanie and Shelby Cuffell of Apopka,FL. She was predeceased by her step daughter Joan Cuffel Barnes of Orlando, FL. There were special people in her life for many years, namely the late Diane Voorhees and her family of Oppenheim; the late Carol and Orville Ferguson of Lasselsville; Robert and June Shults of Johnstown; Kelly and Dean Clemons of Dolgeville , Rev. and Mrs Herbert Shears of Lompoc,CA and Judith Dourney of Melbourne, FL who kept the laughter going over a distance of 1,300 miles. The family will receive relatives and friends from 4-7pm on Monday, April 9, 2012 at the Enea Family Funeral Home, 9 Center St., St. Johnsville. A religious service will be held at 10am on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at the funeral home with the Rev R.W. Williams officiating. Procession will follow to Ephratah Cemetery where she will be laid to rest alongside her husband. The family is being cared for by John P. Lewandowski, Funeral Director. To offer an online message of sympathy please go to www.eneafamily.com. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Thelma's name be made to SAVAC. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.