Lenore M. Thompson

Lenore M. Thompson died peacefully and of natural causes early in the morning on March 10, 2015, at home in Homosassa, Florida. Lenore was 97. She had been a recent resident of the Sunflower Springs community, upon returning home to Homosassa in the last year. She had previously resided in the Sugarmill Woods community with her late husband Art for thirteen years, from 1985 to 1998.

Lenore was a retired elementary school teacher, USA War Production Board employee in Washington, D.C, and training manager for the Keystone Automobile Club and Keystone Insurance Company in Philadelphia, the forerunners to today’s AAA Mid-Atlantic. While at Keystone, Lenore met Art, her husband of 42 years. They married in 1956 in Washington, D.C., and resided in East Brandywine Township, Downingtown, Pennsylvania, a Chester County suburb of Philadelphia.

While living in Downingtown from 1962 through 1985, Lenore was a substitute elementary school teacher in the Downingtown School District. She was a member of the Garden Club, Women’s Club, and Hopewell United Methodist Church in East Brandywine. Prior to living in Downingtown and shortly after wedding to Art, Lenore and her family briefly lived in Coatesville and Exton, Pennsylvania. Upon Art’s passing in 1998, Lenore lived near her daughter and grandchildren in Georgia until last year.

Born in High Bridge, Iowa on January 7, 1918, Lenore was the daughter of the late Dave and Cleo Bollie (Domenico Bulgarelli of Piandelagotti, Italy). During her youth, she lived with her family in Madrid, Iowa. Lenore graduated from Madrid High School in 1935, where she was a state English grammar top finisher, and Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa in 1937. Receiving a scholarship to attend Buena Vista, she graduated with a teaching degree, excelled in history, played the saxophone, and was a Phi Alpha Pi sorority sister, Buena Vista Ambassador & Speaker, and member of the BV Players Drama Club and the BV Band.

Upon graduation from Buena Vista, Lenore taught elementary school for five years in Burt and Woodbine, Iowa. When World War II erupted, at the age of 24, she moved to Washington D.C. to support her country on the War Production Board in Washington D.C. As an independent woman enjoying life in the big city, Lenore saved and purchased her own home in the 1940s, before transferring to the Philadelphia area (Drexel Hill) to work for Keystone. Lenore was a consummate bridge player, crossword aficionado, passionate reader, slot machine enthusiast, and an avid Philadelphia Phillies fan. She enjoyed streaming the baseball games live on her computer until just last season.

Surviving are her one daughter, Linda, wife of Carl Hire of Lecanto, Florida; two sons, Arthur of Bozeman, Montana, and Craig, husband of Lynne Thompson, of Lititz, Pennsylvania; and six grandchildren, Laurel, Rachel, Cory, David, Dana, and Deron. Also surviving is her brother, David Bollie of Montgomery, Alabama. The entire family fondly remembers Lenore's uncompromising devotion, thoughtfulness, and support. Her teachings at home will never be forgotten.

Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made in Lenore’s memory to Hospice of Citrus and the Nature Coast at www.hospiceofcitrus.org.

Arrangements entrusted to

Wilder Funeral Home

www.wilderfuneral.com