Helen A. Thompson was called to heaven on September 1, 2017. Helen was born in Le Mars, Iowa, on July 27, 1931, to Alma Katherine (Martfeld) and Carl Wm. Urban. Sister of John Urban and half-sister of Ronald Mahlke, Helen grew up in Le Mars and Sioux City and attended Central H.S. in Le Mars. After WWII, she moved to California and, in 1954, married Ross W. Thompson, of Newport, Rhode Island. They settled on Otay Ranch, outside Chula Vista, where they raised a family and a farm menagerie. They were members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Chula Vista. Helen’s first passion was always caring for those she loved, but she also devoted her considerable talents to volunteering at Halecrest School, leading Brownies and Girl Scouts, and running several small businesses. Helen and Ross moved to Ventura, California in the mid-'70s, where they were members of Wayfarers Chapel Lutheran Church, then moved to Tucson, Arizona in the late '80s, to be nearer to their grandchildren. From the late '70s until her retirement in 1996, Helen worked as an administrator for J.C. Penney Custom Decorating in Ventura and Tucson. In Tucson, Helen and Ross were members of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.
Helen believed in the Grace of God, hard work, thrift and education. Raised in Iowa, in the depths of the Great Depression and the scarcity of the war years, Helen possessed a work ethic and a practicality that is seldom seen in persons born into more favorable circumstances. She seized every opportunity and worked tirelessly to overcome setbacks and succeed. Helen brought intelligence, perseverance and loyalty to the projects and people lucky enough to enjoy her support. Her many interests included genealogy, coins, crochet, shopping the Wednesday ads, history, science, nature, cooking, recycling, watching PBS, photographically documenting her grandchildren, visiting relatives and letter-writing, until her declining mobility and health prevented her from continuing. Helen’s children are grateful to her for filling the house with books and homemade cookies, even when money was tight, and for embodying the true meaning of love and the value of a life well-lived.
Helen is survived by her beloved husband of 63 years, Ross W. Thompson of Tucson, AZ; Daughters Susan (Donato) Valdivia of Tucson, AZ, and Myra (Oliver) Morgan of Asheville, NC; Grandchildren Rosalee (Mark) Blair of Tucson, AZ, Cristina (Moses) Ramos of Tucson, AZ, Victoria (James) Corbett of Fairfield, CA, Charlotte Morgan of Duxbury, VT, and Sophia Morgan of Asheville, NC; Great-grandchildren Marisol and Marcos Blair, Moisio Ramos, Parker and Haylie Grace Corbett; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are under the direction of East Lawn Palms Mortuary, Tucson, AZ.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.eastlawnpalmsmortuary.com for the Thompson family.
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