Lydia Thompson

Lydia Thompson was born on September 12, 1923 in Saginaw Michigan. She passed on March 4, 2017 in Lynnwood, Washington after living with Alzheimer’s' Disease for over 17 years. Lydia Thompson was a beloved mother, wife, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Funeral services to celebrate her life will be held on April 19, 2017 at 1PM at Forest Lawn Chapel, 6701 30th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126. Family requests that memorials instead of flowers may be made to her favorite cause of Scouting: BSA Troop 309, 1844 NE Perkins Place, Shoreline, WA 98155. In 1925, her family moved from Michigan to Windsor, Colorado after her mother died during childbirth. Her father later remarried and they became part of a very large family. In 1939, at the age of 16, Lydia and her sister Eva left home for a new life in Denver where she found work as a housekeeper. In 1940, Lydia met Virgil and his brother Irvin at a dance hall. We like to believe she swept Virgil off his feet as they were married just later that year in Denver, Colorado. Shortly after, Virgil and Lydia moved to Los Angeles after Virgil procured work in airplane design and construction. Lydia and Virgil had their first child, George, in 1941 who tragically died at birth. The family visited George's grave every year while living in Los Angeles. In 1943, Virgil enlisted in the Army and was deployed as an infantryman to the Pacific. Their second son, Sydney, was born the same year. Lydia worked several jobs beginning as a waitress at Clifton’s Cafeteria but primarily as a “Rosy the Riveter” for Lockheed. She rose to the level of supervisor on the construction floor of the riveters. In 1945, just a month before the war ended, Virgil was killed on Bloody Bucket Ridge in the Battle for Guadalcanal. It was not until Sydney was in high school that Lydia was able to talk about this loss with him. After the war in 1946, Lydia married Virgil's brother, Irvin, and they continued to live in the Los Angeles area. Legend has it that Virgil asked Irvin to promise him that he'd care for Lydia on his death bed. The couple attended Catholic church after enrolling Syd in Catholic school. In 1955, Dwight was born. Lydia worked as a homemaker while raising Dwight and Syd. She loved to cook and bake and was especially known for making delicious chocolate chip cookies. Syd and Dwight remember their mother enjoyed canning foods for the winter and picking fruit to can with her. Lydia was active both in her church and in her children's schools. Irv and Lydia loved to travel and visit their family. They traveled by train and later by fully loaded car to several states including Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The boys greatly enjoyed these road trips where they frequently stopped at parks, resorts, and towns visiting most states and National Parks West of the Mississippi. Syd and Dwight especially remember the family renting a cabin in the mountains at Big Bear Lake and often staying several weeks with Irv joining them on the weekends. They enjoyed fishing at the lake as a family. The family enjoyed attending parades, playing miniature golf with friends and family, live music, Knott's Berry Farm, Disneyland and occasional trips to the beach. One year they even participated in the 4th of July parade and rode on a float. It was a family tradition that they all attended the LA County Fair each year together. They also frequently played cards -- canasta and cribbage--- and board games with friends and family. As a couple, Lydia and Irv loved ballroom dancing and would go square and line dancing together. They frequently attended and danced at the Lawrence Welk show when it was in El Monte, CA in the early 1950’s. In 1971, Lydia, Irv, and Dwight moved to Des Moines, Washington. Irv worked for Howard S. Wright Co. in Seattle while Lydia worked as a homemaker putting the finishing touches on Dwight. She loved gardens and kept a large, vibrant garden in her home in Arcadia and Des Moines. She loved to sew and her grandchildren fondly remember her teaching them how to use her sewing machine for fun art projects. Her grandchildren spent hours with her and her vast collection of dolls that she amassed over the years. Lydia and Irv always attended their grandchildren's birthday parties and were known for showing up in high class, semi-formal attire. They regularly had them over for weeks at a time --- strict rules but lots of food and fun. Lydia always wore a nice dress with nylons and heels while Irv was seen in a sharp suit and tie. Lydia continued to live in her and Irv's home until his death in 2001. Lydia subsequently moved in with her youngest son, Dwight, until late 2006. Her last seven years were under the loving care of Emma at St. Thaddeus Jude in Lynnwood. Lydia is survived by her two sons Sydney Thompson (MaryLois) of Stockton, CA and COL (Ret.) Dwight A. Thompson (Lisa O'Brien) of Kenmore, WA; her seven grandchildren Marie Ackerman (Rev. Peter) of Alexandria, VA, John Thompson (Tammy) of Sacramento, CA, Suzanne Thompson of Concord, CA, MAJ Dwight C. Thompson (Stefanie) of Belton, TX, Meredith Thompson of Kenmore, WA, Hilda Thompson of Seattle, WA, Travonna Thompson-Wiley of Lake Forest Park, WA; her four great grandchildren Harry Ackerman, Amy Ackerman, Garrett Thompson, and Zachary Thompson. Funeral services to celebrate her life will be held on April 19, 2017 at 1PM at Forest Lawn Chapel, 6701 30th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126. Family requests that memorials instead of flowers may be made to her favorite cause of Scouting: BSA Troop 309, 1844 NE Perkins Place, Shoreline, WA 98155.