Rita Jo Baines Thompson

Mrs. Thompson was born September 2, 1932 in Houston, Texas, the daughter of the late Clara Mae (Rich) and Link Hayden Baines. She passed away Friday, September 5, 2014 in a local nursing facility.

Mrs. Thompson was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Rita was a very talented lady who touched many lives throughout her 82 years. She played various musical instruments including piano, organ, concert harp and guitar. She owned Thompson School of Dance in Lufkin, Texas and shared her love of dance with literally thousands of people. Rita and her husband, Van, were two of the most graceful people to set foot on the dance floor. They had the Apart Point Dancers Round Dance Club for 30 years and enjoyed square dancing. In the early 1980’s they taught hundreds of people to country western dance. Rita and her daughter, Jo, taught ballet, jazz, tap, and clogging to hundreds of young dancers. Those of you who knew Rita probably remember the elaborate dance recitals and costumes that she created. She continued to teach line dancing and was a world-renowned line dance choreographer. The line dance “Rita’s Waltz” is a favorite and is danced literally around the world. When she wasn’t dancing, Rita loved “digging in the dirt” in her flower beds. She also loved being a ”cattleman’s wife” and enjoyed being outdoors on the family ranch. She was always very active in church whether it was children’s choir, Sunday school or Christmas programs. Her favorite saying was “Thank You Lord!” Rita was a very special lady and was indeed blessed with a very full life.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Eddie and Yalonda Thompson of Lufkin; daughter and son-in-law, Jo (Thompson) and Tim Szymanski of Denver, Colorado; grandchildren, Anna Claire Szymanski, Lacey Jo Thompson, Edward Van Thompson, III and Jeremy Blake Griffith; and other family members.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Thompson was preceded in death by her husband, Edward “Van” Thompson, Sr.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Congregational Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 27, Lufkin, TX 75902 or Affinity Health, 2708 S. Medford Drive, Lufkin, TX 75901.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.