Vondean Kay Thompson

Vondean K. (Stafford) Thompson passed away peacefully, in the company of her family Jan. 10, 2018, from the effects of a brain tumor. She was a beautiful woman who led a full life. Vondean was born in Centralia, Wash., Sept. 10, 1938, to Elvin and Marjorie Stafford.

She graduated from Centralia High School in 1956, and earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Washington in 1960. Vondean loved music and was a talented pianist. In August of 1960, Vondean abandoned her career as a Northwest Airline stewardess and made the mistake of marrying Robert B. Thompson, a lowly ensign in the United States Navy. Fortunately for both of them, she had over 57 years to straighten him up. Vondean and Bob spent the first two years of their married life honeymooning on the (not yet infamous) United States Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The following two years were spent on the Stanford University campus in Palo Alto, Calif. The couple returned to Centralia in 1965.

Vondean’s love of music and extraordinary organizational skills contributed greatly to our local community. In the 1970s, she formed the Centralia College Performing Arts Society, which over the years brought many fine musicians to perform locally. Later, she organized the Pacific Northwest Youth Orchestra, and managed to bring string music instruction into our schools. The PNWYO lives on today as the Pacific Northwest Chamber Orchestra. In 1986, Vondean was elected to the first ever Centralia City Council. She served three terms including one year as Mayor of the City. In 1998, after retiring from the City Council, she and Bob moved to their home on beloved Ayock Point, near Lilliwaup on Hood Canal.

She and Bob traveled quite a bit. This included nearly 40 years of fishing adventures and misadventures in Canada and Alaska with Suzi and Jim VanderStoep. There were also annual visits to Sharon and John Edinger, where ever they might be in the world. They made seven pleasant trips to their daughter-in-law, Maddy’s home country, Australia, Vondean traveled to Ireland and Victoria, B.C., with her daughters, and then there was Maui...

Vondean was the loving mother of three children, Elizabeth Thompson-Lagerberg, Robert B. (Maddy) Thompson and Mary (Diane) Baskin-Thompson. She had the joy of seven grandchildren, Bela, Lucky, Aubrey and Cyrus Thompson-Lagerberg, Angelique and Natasha Thompson and Graham Baskin-Thompson. Vondean was our communication center and the spiritual hub about which our family revolved.

Vondean was preceded in death by her parents, Elvin and Marjorie; and brother, Gordon Stafford.

She is survived by her husband, Robert; their three children; seven grandchildren; and her brother, Stan Stafford.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, at the Theater at Corbet Hall on the Centralia College campus.

Remembrances would be greatly appreciated by her favorite organization: The Pacific N.W. Chamber Orchestra , PO Box 36, Chehalis, WA, 98532.