Thelma Reifel

Thelma Reifel, 91, of Nacogdoches, and formerly of Marble Falls, died June 14, 2012. She was born in Iredell County in North Carolina on Sept. 28, 1920, to Mason and Grace Johnston.

She was an independent woman before it was popular to be such. Raised in the Presbyterian church by a family of farmers, preachers, teachers and missionaries, she was the most adventurous of five children.

Music, education and a curiosity about the world dominated her life. She started college at 16, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Arts in English and education at Appalachian State University and a Ph.D. in education at the University of Miami. She also studied at the Pacific School of Religion at Berkeley, taking classes in sacred music, organ, hymn playing and choral directing.

At 13, she was a substitute organist in her church and, later, an organist and choir director at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Marble Falls. She also taught theology classes at Miami Shores Presbyterian Church in Florida.

Barely out of her teens, she left the family farm and struck out on her own for New York City. While working for the Western Electric Defense Plant there, she met and later married Virgil Loika, a professional trombonist, conductor and music arranger. While her husband played with the big bands in the 1940s, she met many of the big musical entertainers of that decade such as Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey; Sid Caesar, whom she played canasta with; and Louis Armstrong, who became a personal friend of the family.

She fulfilled her desire to see the world, visiting South America, South Africa, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Italy, India, Bangkok, Japan and China, where she walked under the stars on the Great Wall.

She was a great influence on her many students and on those who knew her, and their lives were changed for the better because of her. But even more than that, she was a good mother. “Her children arise up, and call her blessed.” Proverbs 31:28. All who knew her will truly miss her.

Survivors include children Mason Loika of Bucks County, Pa., and Chris Loika Englert of Nacogdoches; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchilden.

She was preceded in death by three husbands and son Jonathan Loika.

A memorial service is 1 p.m. July 8 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Marble Falls.