Blanche Thompson

Blanche M. Thompson DAMASCUS, Va. Blanche M. Thompson, age 99, passed away Friday, Jan. 1, 2010, at Grace Healthcare Center of Abingdon, Va. She was a lifelong resident of Damascus and was a daughter of the late Ervin Manuel Thompson and Ida Elizabeth Jenkins Thompson. She retired from Brookmade Hosiery Mill in Damascus and had been very active in the community helping people. She had written a weekly column, "Damascus News", in the Washington County Newspaper for many years. She also had been a very active member of First Baptist Church in Damascus where she was a former church secretary and clerk, taught Sunday school, was active in the WMU Baptist Women and the church choir. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by two sisters, Irene Fleming and Bertha Thompson; and two brothers, Joe Thompson and Charles Thompson. She is survived by two brothers, Herman Thompson of Damascus and Ralph Thompson Sr. and his wife Frances, of Madison, Tenn.; two sisters-in-law, Faye Thompson of Bristol Tennessee, and Ethel Thompson of Mountain City, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, in the First Baptist Church in Damascus with Rev. Wayne Guynn and Mr. Ralph Thompson Jr. officiating. The committal service and interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park in Damascus. Pallbearers will be David Thompson, Charles Edward Thompson, Bobby Thompson, Ralph Thompson Jr., Sam Fleming, Larry Miller, Charles Cook, and Ralph Cornett. Honorary pallbearers will be the former and present deacons of First Baptist Church. The family would like to extend a special thanks to all the nurses and staff at Grace Healthcare Center and the Hospice of Southwest Virginia. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at Garrett Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to the family and a memorial video tribute may be viewed by visiting www.garrettfuneralhome.com Ms. Thompson and her family are in the care of Garrett Funeral Home, 203 N. Shady Ave., Damascus, VA 24236, 276-475-3631