Myrtle L. Thompson

GALESBURG – Myrtle L. Thompson, 106, of Galesburg and formerly of Wataga, died Thursday, May 5, 2011, at Crystal Pines Health Care Center in Crystal Lake.
She was born June 6, 1904, in Prairie City, to John and Elizabeth (Powell) Dykeman. 
She married Leo Trout in 1922. He preceded her in death in 1927. She later married Clyde Thompson on Oct. 9, 1931. He preceded her in death in 1982. 
She was a very loving and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to her large family.
She graduated from Abingdon High School and Western Illinois Teachers College. She had a teaching career spanning more than 50 years. She started teaching at age 18 in country schools. She first taught at Cross Lane School near Abingdon, then Road School and Robin School, both near Wataga. In her later years, she taught at Wataga Grade School. At the end of her career she was a substitute teacher in most elementary schools in Galesburg.
Aside from her many years teaching, she also worked for more than 30 years at the family grocery store in Wataga. She also taught Sunday school at Wataga Congregational Church for many years and was in charge of Knox College Kindergarten for several years.
She is survived by three sons, Clyde "Tom" Thompson of Carmel, Calif., Leo Trout, Jr. of Seaside, Calif., and Bob (Marietta Chapple) Thompson of Woodstock; her daughter, Vivian Clevenger of Hemmitt, Calif.; a sister, Betty Killip of Galesburg; 21 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; and a daughter-in-law, Sherry Thompson of Galesburg. 
She was preceded in death by a son, Joe Thompson; two daughters, Dessa Shear and Jean Hilligoss; five brothers; and a great-granddaughter.
The visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the funeral at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at Watson Funeral Home, Galesburg. Burial will follow in Wataga Cemetery, Wataga. 
Memorials may be made to Wataga Congregational Church, Crystal Pines Health Care Center or Passages Hospice. Visit www.watsonfh.net to share condolences.