Victoria Thompson

Victoria Anne Thompson, age 63, died suddenly on December 12, 2017. This world has lost a precious soul with an angel heart. She really just needed wings. Born at the old St. David’s hospital in Austin, on September 6, 1954, she was the smallest baby born there in 7 years. Vicki was so small; she fit in the palm of her father’s hand. The doctor said she wouldn’t make it but she was a fighter and defied the odds. She was 13 pounds at 13 months old, and stole all the attention from her older brother, Michael, running and playing like most toddlers, miniature style. Due to her rare bone disease, at age 5 she underwent surgery to put her hips back in their sockets. She just kept running and soldiered on through several summers in the children’s ward, stumping the doctors at John Sealy hospital who studied her and thought she was a miracle. At age 15 Vicki was the youngest person in the U.S. to have double hip replacement surgery. One of her deepest desires was to be independent – to have a job, own a car and a home, so she set a high bar and never looked back! She graduated from McCallum high school in 1973 and went on to Blinn Jr College, graduating with an associate of arts degree in 1976. After college she acquired a 1974 brown Capri, fulfilling yet another goal. Her dad took her to San Antonio where they fitted the car, adapting the seat so she could reach the pedals and steering wheel. Soon she was zipping around Austin. Though she had fulfilled some of her dreams, her plans to go to nursing school were put on hold for yet another surgery. But Vicki never quit fighting for independence and quickly landed a job with an insurance company and moved into her own apartment in NW Hills. Vicki was smart, witty, and a little bit sassy so of course she worked her way up from examiner to a supervisor in no time. In the early 80’s she went to Boston to see a specialist, hoping that more surgery would enable her to go back to school or keep working. Her hopes were dashed in getting her body fixed but she soon realized another talent – poetry. Her writing filled a void so she entered a couple poems in The World of Poetry organization. When they both won awards Vicki realized she had found a whole new outlet in the world of writing. Her award winning poem, “Blessings in Disguise” ©1990, was framed and placed on the set of Life Goes On for the entire time the show ran. Vicki continued to write and collect disability until an opportunity came up for her to teach children. She resonated with kids because she was just the right size. So, beginning in the 90’s, Vicki spent 20 plus years teaching kids at the Westover Preschool, often teaching her friends children (which she considered her own) with Me Books & crafts, and with particular fondness for the underdog. Vicki always wanted to be a mother, but Gods plan was for her to be a mom to hundreds of pre-school children over the years. In 2016 Vicki’s body was worn out so she chose to retire, but was grateful for her years at the preschool. Sadly, she was in pain much of this last year, but still coped, loving and serving neighbors in her building, and befriending the people who served her with Meals on Wheels. Vicki loved Jesus, angels, books, kitties, little ceramic shoes, handmade quilts & crafts, dark chocolate, burgers, and all things bling. Her small apartment was decorated in linen and lace, in true Victorian style. She was organized to a fault & kept things neat. She was one of a kind and we will have to work hard to learn to live without her.

Vicki is survived by her parents, Luther and Rosemary Thompson, of Austin, TX, sister, Melanie Tullier, niece Jessica Rose Murray, her cousins Sharon, Susan, and Cathy, and three uncles, Robert and David Keir, and Joe Thompson and all their children. Her brother, Michael, preceded Vicki in death. His children Graham and Hannah Thompson also survive her.

Special thanks to Alicia Stennett and Bobbie Herzog for their friendship and care for Vicki these last few years. Also, deep thanks to her sweet circle of friends who rallied around Vicki recently, Ginger, Sheila, Merry, Janie, Stacy and Kay. Now Vicki is in the arms of Jesus and who knows, maybe she got her wings. We all know she has heard those beautiful words, “well done, good and faithful servant.” In the words of Vicki’s mother, “God only gives special children to special parents as an extra gift in life…and Vicki was my extra gift.” She was a gift to all of us.

A memorial is planned at Westover Hills Church of Christ on January 19, 2018 at 2 p.m. For more information and guestbook go to www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.

RIP Vicki Anne, we loved you dearly.

WHY?

Why can’t people

believe that what I have

dreamed has been planned and schemed before. Yet all along

those dreams were wished upon.

But now they have travelled

on down the road – behind

the goal within my mind

only to find my true

self and soul, lying

beside the door which leads to

the great beyond.

© copyright 1993

Victoria A. Thompson