Thelma was born Oct. 6, 1927, in LaGrange Park, IL to parents Elma Cooper Dorsey and Otis Bond Dorsey. She graduated from Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, IL in 1945 with membership in the National Honor Society. Her education included the Art Institute of Chicago, Florida Southern College, Ray-Vogue School of Fashion Merchandising, and the New York School of Interior Design. She was an artist and professional interior designer (Allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers). She received many art awards and has art works in many private and corporate collections. Employment included 37 years working with an interior design studio in Columbus, IN.

While living in Columbus, where her husband was employed at Cummins Engine Company, she was a founding member of the Columbus Arts Council, Columbus Art League, and was on the Distinguished Visitor Series board. She was actively involved in the First Presbyterian Church where she designed a large stained-glass window for the chapel and a needlepoint tapestry for the Fellowship room.

Since moving to Richland, WA in 2000, she participated in tai chi, ballroom dance classes, Allied Arts Association, Book Arts group, and Shalom UCC church where she served on the building committee for a new addition and was responsible for acquisition of furnishings for the addition.

She married Harlow A. Triplett in Evanston, IL in 1948. They lived in Annapolis, MD for 6 years where their two sons Lee and Mark were born. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Elaine Guzman, husband Harlow, and son Lee. She is survived by her son, Mark Triplett of Richland, WA, granddaughters Andrea Olson (Peter) of Portland, OR Lindsay Olson (Phil), of Denver, CO, and Laura Nelson (Daniel) of Woodinville, WA, and grandson Jared Boasen (Satomi) of Montreal, Canada. She has six great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Mid-Columbia Ballet or the Allied Arts Association (Richland).