I did some snooping today at the Knox County Indiana library that houses older wills. Romi Walters was widowed with three kids a the time of Thelma's disappearance. A great guy at the library found Romi Walters will and originally Eugene Walters the oldest son was executor in March 1944 but then gave Thelma not only the title of administrator of his Dad's will, but also Thelma was made guardian to Rose Marie and Richard Vernon Walters. The family was not well to do from what I see. Medium or Average income. Thelma received a monthly allotment from Consolidated Coal company where Romi had worked, a little social security from the kid's Mom who passed in 1934 and Eugene gave about $40 a month from his service pay for clothing etc for his siblings and that's about it. Eugene the oldest was in the service and it is WWII so it made sense to give Thelma control of the kids and his Dad's will. This tells me there certainly could not have been ill feelings between Eugene and Thelma. And in 1953 it was Eugene who came forward to have Thelma's will dispersed after having her declared absent and then deceased. Eugene was executor of Thelma's will. And the total payout to be paid to the three now adults was only $350.00. So doubtful there was any foul play on the "kids" part. Not to mention, Eugene Walters became a very successful business man and owned a Grocery chain and sat on the Board of the Sun Trust Bank. His brother Richard Vernon, was also a successful Real Estate Developer. Thelma's last signed signature was in September 1946. Eugene mentioned in his petition to the courts, Thelma is absent from Indiana in 1946 but no given last date seen. Now Thelma's trip to her parents home in Ft Branch was only 35 maybe 40 minutes from Vincennes so most likely there were no lay overs for the bus other than it's regular Bus stops. So my questions are: Who and when reported Thelma missing? Was it her parents, one of her 8 siblings or one of the two minors at the Walters home? Once she was absent from the Walters home, who then took care of the two Walters minors seeing as their oldest brother was in the service at the time? In Thelma's will no money was left to her side of the family. Only to the three Walters kids, which again wasn't all that much. I don't think at this point Money has any thing to do with Thelma's disappearance. Nor do I think she just up and left and not take any of her proceeds from the will. Although in Sept 1946, Thelma signed to have herself obtain About $120.00 and also the two Minors, Rose Marie and Richard Vernon receiving equal amounts. But again, hardly enough for Thelma to just up and disappear and never be heard from again. Also Thelma is mentioned a number of times in the Vincennes newspaper, attending various social functions to include functions at church. So no one in her social circle got curious on her disappearance? One thing I found curious: When Romi's will was being probated it turned out Romi never paid the entire bill for his first wife's burial expenses. With that said, as interest accrued on the outstanding funeral bill, the amount brought forward to pay off was $700. I thought that strange. Romi's wife died in 1934 and during that 10 year span he'd only paid a small amount owed on his wife's funeral.
