Lorraine Smith Thompson formerly of Wooster and Congress, Ohio, passed away at the amazing age of 101 3/4, at the Homestead at GentleBrook in Hartville, Ohio, on March 7, 2024. Lorraine, the daughter of Julia A. (Stewart) Smith and Charles M. Smith was born July 20, 1922, in Bellaire, Ohio, at her paternal grandparents’ home. Raised by her mother of whom she was very proud, Lorraine graduated valedictorian of her St. Clairsville High School class and Summa Cum Laude from Ohio University in 1943 in math and physical science, minoring in Latin. She is the widow of Rev. Ernest Louvane Thompson. Lorraine and Louvane were married in a family wedding at his parents’ parsonage on May 18, 1941. They were 3 days shy of their 61st anniversary when he passed away on May 15, 2002.
Lorraine, or Mrs. T., as she was often called, began her work life as a chemist at Hannah Coal Company. Later called to be a teacher, she taught 25 years, 23 of them as a math or science teacher at Congress Jr. High in the Northwestern School District. She was known for her annual project of having the students study the structure and make stellated icosahedrons.
As a United Methodist minister’s wife, she was active in leadership in the women’s groups, nursery, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and making and running off the bulletins in the day of mimeographs! During her husband’s pastorate, they served in Collins-West Hartland where teenager Velma Jean Boss (Dietrich) joined the household and held a special place in Lorraine’s heart. The second appointment was Henrietta-Birmingham. Four years at Columbia Station followed. From 1955 to 1975, they served the Congress Community Church (Federated Methodist and Presbyterian) in Congress, Ohio. The summer of 1964 was spent on a ministerial exchange in Scunthorpe, England. They also looked up relatives in Maulds Meabourne, northeast England, from where Louvane’s father emigrated. In retirement, they enjoyed many winters in Englewood, Florida, and opened their home to family and friends.
Lorraine was known for her faithfulness, dedication, and determination, her continuous interest in every child, and grandchild, her strength of character in caring for her husband through 10 years of illness, and her devotion to her mother who lived to be 100. She loved her Kenjockety Club, the Sarah-Rebekah UMW Circle and Sunday School Class at the Wooster United Methodist Church, her retired clergy and teacher groups, and dear friends she made at each stage of her life and kept for a lifetime. She also loved reading, playing the piano, quilting, gardening, dominoes, genealogy, and cats. She was an excellent writer, and her children and friends are blessed by the family adventures she wrote up—whether funny like the bats and squirrels that somehow entered the house or serious like the Wooster tornado– and saved for posterity. Her children often invited her out to dinner only to arrive and find dinner prepared, and more to go home with them. She never wanted to bother you and always said she was just fine.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Louvane, her daughter Donna Lorraine Hudson (2016), and Velma Jean Dietrich (2020).
She will be greatly missed by her family: son-in-law Bernie Sauer (Donna, deceased) of Pasadena, CA; Joy Thompson Watts (Bill) of Uniontown, Ohio. David Louvane Thompson (Kathy) of Wooster, and Jon Ernest Thompson (Brenda) of Gloucester, VA. Beloved grandchildren include: Paul Hudson (Melissa); Gregory (Lisa) Watts, Andrea Watts (Gerri Fuller), Amy Watts-Padilla (Manuel Padilla); Brian Thompson, Jesse Thompson (Layna), Julia Krueger (Montana), and Becky Thompson (Wiley Wilhelm).
Those marvelous beings known as great-grandchildren include Hallie Lorraine and Cecelia Hudson; Ava, Anabella, Eliza, and Corbin Watts; Maya and Madison Fuller; and Aspen, Grayson, Will, and Jon Krueger.
The family is grateful to the caring staff of The Homestead at GentleBrook (memory care) and Westview Healthy Living (assisted living), Absolute Hospice, and all the faithful who called, wrote, or visited. A memorial service celebrating her life will be announced at a later date when the family can gather. McIntire Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster, is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Habitat for Humanity, 2700 Akron Rd. Wooster, OH 44691, The Wayne County Humane Society, 1161 Mechanicsburg Rd. Wooster, OH 44691 or Salvation Army,437 S. Market St. Wooster, OH 44691. Condolences may be left at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com or sent to joytwatts@sbcglobal.com
I have fond memories of car rides to and from Gloucester, VA, with Mrs. T to visit Jon, Brenda and the kids for graduations, etc. So sorry for your loss.
My heartfelt condolences to the whole family. Mrs. Thompson was one of my favorite teachers. After I started teaching, she would come up to me every year on Teacher Work Day and tell me how great the incoming freshmen were. It always started the school year out on a high note.
Years ago Mrs. T and I were e-mail buddies. We would share jokes and stories or whatever we thought the other would enjoy. Every once in a while Joy would interject something like you can’t believe everything you hear on the internet. Thanks for keeping us grounded Joy. My sympathy to her whole family.
Almost fifty years later, I still remember Mrs. Thompson as one of my favorite teachers. Her family has my sympathy.
I had the privilege of being one of her students. To this day I can picture her reading to us at the end of class.
I want to send my deepest sympathy to all the family for there loss of there wonderful mother, grandmother. I had the privilege of growing up in Congress the neighborhood where Mrs. & Rev. Thompson and family lived. Mrs. T. was a wonderful teacher. I later reconnected with Mrs Thompson at W.V.H.L. where I shared many activities together like church, bingo,crafts, and many games of domino’s, exercise and many other fun times. Mrs. Thompson will truly be miss by her loving and very caring family and many friends whose lives she touched. Sending hugs and prayers, Marita Buchanan
Joy, I am so sorry for your loss.