Barbara Rickerd Thompson; Age 97; passed away peacefully on March 3, 2020. Born May 23, 1922 in Somerset, MI to LeGrand and Grace Rickerd. Survivors include children, Joseph P. (Skip) Thompson, Jr. (Kathy) of Lake Forest, IL, and Kathleen G. Thompson (Jon Strempek) of Ann Arbor; grandchildren, Kelly Thompson (Janette DeCaire) of Seattle, WA, Captain J. Patrick Thompson, III, USN (Hilliary) of Virginia Beach, VA, Kerry Golden (Danny) of NYC, Maggie Anderson (Carl) of Darien, CT, Betsy Lucier (Timothy) of Lake Forest, IL and eight great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Joseph Patrick Thompson, and son, R. Rickerd Thompson of Grosse Ile, both in 2008. Visitation Sunday, March 8th 12 Noon until the time of the remembrance service 2pm at Chas. Verheyden, Inc., 16300 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Park. Funeral and burial Monday, March 9; Instate 10:00am until the time of the funeral 11:00am at Somerset Congregational Church, Somerset, MI. Memorial contributions to the Grosse Pointe League of Women Voters, 32 Lake Shore, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236 or Somerset Congregational Church, PO Box 41, Somerset Center, MI 49282.
Barbara attended a one room schoolhouse, Addison High School, and graduated from Michigan State University. Prior to her marriage, she taught history in Clare, MI and was a flight hostess for Capital Airlines. In 1947, she married Joseph P. Thompson of Detroit and they moved to Grosse Pointe the following year.
Barbara devoted her life to her husband, children, grandchildren, friends, and involvement in community affairs. Twice elected to the GP Board of Education, she was proudest of working to pass bonds to build North High School and voting to bring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Grosse Pointe in 1968. She served on numerous community organizations and was an advocate for women's rights and voting rights for all. Her contributions included writing numerous pieces for local and state government publications. Since 1952, she was active in the GP League of Women Voters, an organization she encouraged every newcomer to join. She and Joe travelled worldwide, and loved hosting parties for family and friends; her dessert platters were a highlight of the event. She was passionate about history and genealogical research, and in 1987 published her Rickerd family genealogy, a true labor of love which brought her great satisfaction and a huge, extended family. Always interested in current events, her daily Free Press, and local radio news kept her up to date.
Barbara made lifelong friends and loved keeping in touch with everyone, especially through letters. As her contemporaries became fewer, she was especially grateful to her family, her friends' children, and her children's friends for staying close. The family is indebted to Barbara's long-term caregiver, Pat, for her selfless devotion and love.
Barbara attended a one room schoolhouse, Addison High School, and graduated from Michigan State University. Prior to her marriage, she taught history in Clare, MI and was a flight hostess for Capital Airlines. In 1947, she married Joseph P. Thompson of Detroit and they moved to Grosse Pointe the following year.
Barbara devoted her life to her husband, children, grandchildren, friends, and involvement in community affairs. Twice elected to the GP Board of Education, she was proudest of working to pass bonds to build North High School and voting to bring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Grosse Pointe in 1968. She served on numerous community organizations and was an advocate for women's rights and voting rights for all. Her contributions included writing numerous pieces for local and state government publications. Since 1952, she was active in the GP League of Women Voters, an organization she encouraged every newcomer to join. She and Joe travelled worldwide, and loved hosting parties for family and friends; her dessert platters were a highlight of the event. She was passionate about history and genealogical research, and in 1987 published her Rickerd family genealogy, a true labor of love which brought her great satisfaction and a huge, extended family. Always interested in current events, her daily Free Press, and local radio news kept her up to date.
Barbara made lifelong friends and loved keeping in touch with everyone, especially through letters. As her contemporaries became fewer, she was especially grateful to her family, her friends' children, and her children's friends for staying close. The family is indebted to Barbara's long-term caregiver, Pat, for her selfless devotion and love.
Barbara Rickerd Thompson; Age 97; passed away peacefully on March 3, 2020. Born May 23, 1922 in Somerset, MI to LeGrand and Grace Rickerd. Survivors include children, Joseph P. (Skip) Thompson, Jr. (Kathy) of Lake Forest, IL, and Kathleen G. Thompson (Jon Strempek) of Ann Arbor; grandchildren, Kelly Thompson (Janette DeCaire) of Seattle, WA, Captain J. Patrick Thompson, III, USN (Hilliary) of Virginia Beach, VA, Kerry Golden (Danny) of NYC, Maggie Anderson (Carl) of Darien, CT, Betsy Lucier (Timothy) of Lake Forest, IL and eight great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Joseph Patrick Thompson, and son, R. Rickerd Thompson of Grosse Ile, both in 2008. Visitation Sunday, March 8th 12 Noon until the time of the remembrance service 2pm at Chas. Verheyden, Inc., 16300 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Park. Funeral and burial Monday, March 9; Instate 10:00am until the time of the funeral 11:00am at Somerset Congregational Church, Somerset, MI. Memorial contributions to the Grosse Pointe League of Women Voters, 32 Lake Shore, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236 or Somerset Congregational Church, PO Box 41, Somerset Center, MI 49282.
Barbara attended a one room schoolhouse, Addison High School, and graduated from Michigan State University. Prior to her marriage, she taught history in Clare, MI and was a flight hostess for Capital Airlines. In 1947, she married Joseph P. Thompson of Detroit and they moved to Grosse Pointe the following year.
Barbara devoted her life to her husband, children, grandchildren, friends, and involvement in community affairs. Twice elected to the GP Board of Education, she was proudest of working to pass bonds to build North High School and voting to bring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Grosse Pointe in 1968. She served on numerous community organizations and was an advocate for women's rights and voting rights for all. Her contributions included writing numerous pieces for local and state government publications. Since 1952, she was active in the GP League of Women Voters, an organization she encouraged every newcomer to join. She and Joe travelled worldwide, and loved hosting parties for family and friends; her dessert platters were a highlight of the event. She was passionate about history and genealogical research, and in 1987 published her Rickerd family genealogy, a true labor of love which brought her great satisfaction and a huge, extended family. Always interested in current events, her daily Free Press, and local radio news kept her up to date.
Barbara made lifelong friends and loved keeping in touch with everyone, especially through letters. As her contemporaries became fewer, she was especially grateful to her family, her friends' children, and her children's friends for staying close. The family is indebted to Barbara's long-term caregiver, Pat, for her selfless devotion and love.
Barbara attended a one room schoolhouse, Addison High School, and graduated from Michigan State University. Prior to her marriage, she taught history in Clare, MI and was a flight hostess for Capital Airlines. In 1947, she married Joseph P. Thompson of Detroit and they moved to Grosse Pointe the following year.
Barbara devoted her life to her husband, children, grandchildren, friends, and involvement in community affairs. Twice elected to the GP Board of Education, she was proudest of working to pass bonds to build North High School and voting to bring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Grosse Pointe in 1968. She served on numerous community organizations and was an advocate for women's rights and voting rights for all. Her contributions included writing numerous pieces for local and state government publications. Since 1952, she was active in the GP League of Women Voters, an organization she encouraged every newcomer to join. She and Joe travelled worldwide, and loved hosting parties for family and friends; her dessert platters were a highlight of the event. She was passionate about history and genealogical research, and in 1987 published her Rickerd family genealogy, a true labor of love which brought her great satisfaction and a huge, extended family. Always interested in current events, her daily Free Press, and local radio news kept her up to date.
Barbara made lifelong friends and loved keeping in touch with everyone, especially through letters. As her contemporaries became fewer, she was especially grateful to her family, her friends' children, and her children's friends for staying close. The family is indebted to Barbara's long-term caregiver, Pat, for her selfless devotion and love.
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