Thelma Mellnik Basham "Niki", 81, resident of Severna Park, died peacefully in her sleep on September 9, 2014, at Baltimore Washington Medical Center.

She was born on July 20, 1933 in Honolulu, Hawaii and travelled internationally with her military family and settled in Andalusia, PA during World War II. She attended Ursinus College and majored in English.

In her professional life, she taught in various school systems and served for many years as an administrative assistant for the Chief Counsel of the Public Debt. In her personal life she enjoyed being with friends and family, playing bridge, traveling to faraway places, reading science fiction and murder mysteries, and spending quiet times at the ocean.

Niki was preceded in death by her loving husband, Raymond Basham; her sister, Stephanie Richards; and her son, John Alfred Wesner, IV.
She is survived by her daughters, Adrienne Wesner, Valerie Wesner; son-in-law, Don Counts; grandson, Adam Wescount (the Light of her Life); and her sister, Mary McQueen.

She will be remembered for her forthrightness, strength of will, love of cats, and puns.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday September 12, 2014 at 3:00pm at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, 611 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd. Severna Park, MD. Interment to be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to the Back Pack Buddy program at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Thelma's name. Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com