Mildred Lucinda Thompson

Mildred Lucinda Thompson, 85, went home to be with her Lord and with her beloved Jack, on Wednesday, February 20, 2008. Friends are invited to join the celebration of her life at the Hillcrest Church of Christ Chapel, Friday, February 22, 2008 at 2:00 pm. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Raised in Oklahoma and Arkansas, Mildred's family was part of the Great Depression era migration to California. That's where she met that tall, good-looking red-head, Jack Thompson during her senior year of high school. They married Dec. 31, 1939. She was truly his help-mate, dedicating her life and energies to her husband, her five children and the church. She taught countless Bible classes, investing thousands of hours in the study of God's word. Reading and education were top priorities in their family. With prudent financial management and focused determination, they sent five children through Abilene Christian University in Texas. Mildred and Jack were married for 61 years serving the Lord, the church and their community before his death in 2001. Three years later, their oldest child and only son, Douglas, was tragically killed in a car accident. Unwilling to let grief and loneliness defeat her spirit, at the age of 84, Mildred sold her house and moved to Abilene, TX to be close to family. That courageous decision in 2006 was such a blessing to her and her family, Jill and Jack Maxwell and Lynette and Butch Walters of Abilene, Linda Gayle and David Bartley of Dallas, Cheryl and Billy Mathews of Fairview Heights, IL. and Diana Thompson of Danville, CA. At the age of 85, she cherished the daily interaction with family, enjoyed many social gatherings and sporting events and relished her new friendships as a member of the Hillcrest Church of Christ. A short sixteen months after her move, she went home to be reunited with her dear Jack, her beloved son, Douglas, and to meet her precious Lord Jesus. Daughter of the late Lawrence and Mary Speir of Okemah, Oklahoma, Mildred is survived by her sisters, Melba Hunter of Westfork, Arkansas, Treeva Cowan of Pason, Arizona and Mary Lou Whitehead of Oklahoma City and dear friends and sister-in-laws, Gwen Gann and Zeflee Thomspon of Bakersfield, CA and Reba Grall of Folsom, CA. Mildred Lucinda Thompson was known as Mano to her five children and their spouses, seventeen grand-children and their spouses and eight great-grandchildren. Spanish for hand, Mano lived her life in service to others. To honor Mildred's love of reading and commitment to education, donations in lieu of flowers can be made in her memory to the Abilene Education Foundation, PO Box 1999, Abilene, TX 79601 or the Kern Adult Literacy Council, 331 18th St., Bakersfield, CA 93301.