Thelma Ruth Cozad Magan was born in Carbon, Iowa on January 20, 1928, the daughter of Robert and Ruth Cozad, and sister of Dale, Doris and Marvin. Robert lived a hard life, working in coal mines and grain silos, providing for his family in the midst of the Great Depression. Thelma took school very seriously, and was class Valedictorian of her high school graduating class. After teaching in a one-room school house for a year, she set out for New York City. There she met Joseph "Harold" Magan, and they were totally devoted to each other ever after. They married and had three children, Keith, Jesse and Dawn, and eventually settled in Long Beach. Harold passed away on September 5, 1975. Thelma was greatly loved, and was a devoted and loving wife, mother, step-mother of Thomas, beloved grandmother of Thomas, Tracy, Michele, James, Shannon, Joseph, Matthew, Michelle, Jarah and Molly, and great-grandmother of Vincent, and wonderful mother-in-law of Christine, John, and MaryBeth, who was her special care-giver in her long and difficult illness.

She loved her Church and until her illness prevented it, she was an active member of St. John’s. While Thelma joined St. John's Congregation in the mid-60’s, she remained, for the most part, simply a quiet, faithful worshiper. Her main organizational involvement was with Women of St. John's.

However, as older "movers and shakers" died, moved away or otherwise became less involved, Thelma answered the call to serve on the Congregation Council as a Deacon, a position involving care for the spiritual life of the Congregation and personal ministry to its members in need. This led to Thelma being the primary, oft times exclusive, person serving as the Altar Guild and visiting the sick and homebound. With Women of St. John's she became Treasurer, and through her work was always a voice representing the concerns and outlook of older members of the Congregation -but always with an openness and fairness toward the needs of the Ministry of St. John's as a whole.