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One suggestion is to go to Assist Thai Visa, down off the Chiang Mai Village road. I've had good experiences with them. Your situation might need a little more attention then some blog answer.

Then again other people have other suggestions.

Thanks for your input Bill. I checked out the location of Thai Visa Assist on my Sat Nav. So now we will drop by and see what they may offer. My online Google searches suggest the only option is to go out of Thailand for my wife’s new Dependency Visa application. I’ll need to make sure I have all the requirements met before we go.

What you need is a Non-Immigrant O visa.  The "O" stands for other reasons to stay in Thailand which in your case she is wife and your dependent, 

All offices are suppose to do conversions and since wife has Non-Immigrant ED visa there should be no problem converting to Non-Immigrant O visa at CM office.

If done properly she should get Non-Immigrant O visa that is good till your current retirement extension ends in February.  When you apply for extension she will need to apply for extension on her Non O at the same time.  She will then get the same good till date you receive.

I recommend you go to Immigration office and ask about converting her visa from Non-Immigration ED visa to Non-Immigration O visa because she is wife/dependent.

I’m impressed StrayDog,
Have tried looking for a conversion option and did not turn up with any information.
We were already planning a visit to Immigration this coming week to check if there were options for us.
Now I know what to ask for. Thank you.

Hi, regarding my wife’s Non Immigrant (Spouse) Visa.
We went to Chiang Mai Immigration and enquired about changing my wife’s Ed Visa to a Family (Spouse) Visa and got a negative reply so we tried another section and got an emphatic NO.
We have to go out of Thailand. Vientiane seems like a good run in the car for a little adventure. No choice . Learnt also that my wife needs a letter from the University confirming that the course has been completed. Also getting a new income statement in Thai just in case that becomes an issue as my Retirement Visa requires renewal on Feb1 2018. I got a re-entry permit and composed a letter of financial support. Did I forget anything?

I for one thank you for your update.

Relative to my retirement visa from the Thai Consulate in LA - do you have a police report and medical certificate for your visa. I believe you can print the forms from the on line site. You do not need an FBI background report, just a local police report.

In my case I mailed the material to LA. One of the requirements in doing so was to include a self addressed prepaid return envelope. After a week I called the consulate, only to find that I had forgotten to include that envelope. I overnighted the envelope and had my papers within a few days. In your case it looks like you are doing it person. Perhaps easier to fix things, that way.

Oh yes, you might need some documentation to substantiate your letter of financial support, might. In Chiang Mai the American Consulate will provide you with a certificate or declaration which will satisfy Thai immigration.

Yes, I also have my British Embassy financial Income letter Translated into Thai and Certified by the Thailand Office of Consular Affairs here in Chiang Mai.
Am taking my car over to Lao, into  Vientiane  so I got a temporary export licence from the Land Transport Office in Chiang Mai, Valid for the term of my Thai Retirement Visa.
My wife , we discovered , has to have a letter from Chiang Mai University stating that her Education has been fully completed on her current ED Visa before a new Visa will be issued. So we got that too.
My retirement Visa will be renewed here in Chiang Mai in Feb 2018, so there is no rush at the moment. Did try to renew it early but was told to return in late Jan 2018. Had no mention of medical or police reports for the renewal within Thailand.
So hopefully, with marriage certificate in hand we will drive back into Thailand with a Spouse Visa for my wife.
Things do get a bit complicated here at times.
Must not forget to do a 90 day Address report  for both of us to immigration before we go over to Lao.

I believe that address report (TM30) (especially going out of the country) is due within 24 hours of your return, excluding Sundays being a non business day. If it's in excess of 24 hours they will ding you a 1,600 baht fine. Just thinking, when you return from Lao immigration will give you a new entry card. Even so it might be best to check in on that TM 30 update, just in case. 

Just a thought.

You might want to double check on line about medical and police report. Or maybe that's a requirement if you are applying out of country. I'm just trying to eliminate a frustration for you.