Obituary of Frances E. Thompson

Frances Eleanor Thompson passed quietly away Tuesday, April 7, 2015, and joined her beloved husband, Bob and her Dear Lord in Heaven. Frances was born in Rogers, Arkansas. She moved to St. Louis at the age of 14 and met the love of her life, Bob Thompson, a few years later. Married in 1940 in St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bob and Frances began their life's journey. Bob soon went off to war, but Frances moved to Wyoming where she worked with the B-17's as an Air Traffic Controller. Frances dreamed of attending college. She obtained her GED and later enrolled in St. Louis University, majoring in Elementary Education and English. After graduating with dual Bachelors of Arts degrees, Frances began working towards her Master's of Science in Guidance Counseling and Education at Washington University. She graduated in May 1967. Frances was a wonderful mother. She had four children, Marilyn, Douglas, Claire, and Gregory. She taught full-time and still managed to cook, clean, make homemade preserves and jams and can most vegetables from her never-ending gardens. After moving to Jefferson City, Frances accepted a teaching position at Church Farm Medium Security Prison. Teaching imprisoned men instead of children was surprisingly similar and extremely rewarding. The only woman in the facility, and a woman the men had total access to, was a dangerous but important position for Frances. She championed and wrote the Education Program which taught levels elementary through Associate Science degree. During all her years teaching, Frances continued to earn eighteen separate certifications and accreditations in Abnormal Elementary Psychology and all Learning Disabilities. When she began teaching in Eldon schools she requested middle school and junior high students until retiring at age 78. She lived on in Eldon and enjoyed being an avid "birder" with her Bob and was a member of the National Audubon Society and the Cornell University Department of Ornithology. Frances is survived by her children, Marilyn, Doug, Claire, Greg, and son-in-law Bill, and daughter-in-law Judy; grandchildren Christa, Stephanie, Erin, William, Elias, and Hannah. She also has six great-grandsons.