Grace “Elaine” Thompson was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She left this world peacefully on November 22, 2020 at the age of 77.
She is survived by her husband of forty years, naval aviator, Lt. Cmdr. Russell Neil Thompson; her daughter, Wendy Lynn McKoy, and her world traveling sommelier son, Richard Allen Thompson; one grandson, Rowan Miller; two sisters, Joyce (Merritt) Andrews, and Roberta (Floyd) Griffth. She is also survived by nieces and nephews: Barbara Burns, Mike (Michelle) Miller, Stephanie Miller, Sara Miller, Travis (Danielle) Miller, Shane (Rena) Miller, Jason Miller, Amber (Dillon) Miller, Shannon Miller, Cory Griffith (Serita); Grand Nieces and Nephews: Christy, Lindsey, Katelyn, Akio, Paetyn, Micah,Troy, Madison, Riley, Aiden, Alexis, Lily, Kaitlyn, Colby, Colin, Annie and Abel.
She was born to George Kenneth and Katherine Elizabeth Marbes on January 21, 1945. She grew up in Syracuse and Camillus, New York. After graduating from West Genesee High School, she went on to graduate from Vermont College with her Associate’s Degree.
In her youth, she was a talented figure skater and a strong swimmer that saved several lives. Elaine was a ballet and tap dancer and she loved to dance. She was the life of the party that usually planned them and never met a person she didn’t like. Elaine had an uncanny ability for finding the good in people. At a young age, she was bitten by the travel bug and was full of wanderlust. She visited Africa, South America, Europe, The Caribbean, the Middle East and loved the entire US, especially Alaska and Hawaii.
Elaine was a music and concert lover who played the piano and the violin. She also sang in several choirs and was a soloist. Mrs. Thompson attended the Monterey Pops Music Festival in 1967 in California and Woodstock in Saugerties, New York in 1969 in a milk truck.
Elaine was very creative and designed her own home and gardens. She had a green thumb and grew many exotic plants and fruit trees. She was very fond of canning her own home grown vegetables.
Elaine was very patriotic and loved America and its democratic process. She was very involved in politics and leadership roles and was a founder of Concerned American Patriots.
Elaine loved spending time in the kitchen, creating delicious meals for her family. Neighborhood children would gather around the table for after-school cookies and loved listening to Elaine’s stories about her travels. She was a skilled piano player and filled her home with classical music.
Elaine had a heart of gold, a ready laugh, and a penchant for service. Everything she did in this lifetime, at every moment, was for others. She was a joy to be around, a living angel, and adored by everyone that ever met her. Grace was a wonderful human, friend, co-worker, wife, sister, mother, and grandmother.
She was the payroll specialist for Singer Corporation and handled the payroll for the entire country. After getting divorced and needing to support her family, she applied for a job working in computers and convinced them she knew how even though she had no computer experience. She became so successful that Elaine ended up being the director of East Coast Operations for the PeopleSoft Corporation. Elaine was a true chocoholic and believed that there is no problem that can’t be solved with a dove chocolate.
Funeral services will be 1 P.M. Monday, November 28, 2022 at Alford Baptist Church with Reverend Bob Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in Alford City Cemetery with Marianna Chapel Funeral Home directing.
The family will receive friends from 12 P.M. until the time of service at Alford Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the downtown soup kitchen on her behalf.
She will continue to shine through every life she touches.
