Patricia Thompson-Woodworth

1927 - 2011

Patricia Thompson-Woodworth

West Des Moines

Patricia Thompson-Woodworth, 84, a long-time resident of West Des Moines, died from Alzheimer's disease in hospice care at Edgewater - A Wesley Life Community on Saturday, October 22, 2011.

Pat was born Patricia Maurine Lathen on September 17, 1927 in Grant, Iowa to Guy and Grace Lathen of Elliott, Iowa. She married George W. Thompson, Jr. of Red Oak, Iowa in 1947 and they moved to West Des Moines in 1954. Pat and George had five children. George practiced dentistry and died in 1993. Pat married Wayne L. Woodworth in 1999 and they most recently made their home at Edgewater in West Des Moines.

Pat graduated from Elliott High School in 1945 and attended the University of Nebraska. Pat received numerous awards for her community service including the Outstanding Citizen Leadership Award from the National Community Education Association in 2006, the West Des Moines Community School District Award of Merit for Service 1969-1975, and the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award in 1974. She served on the West Des Moines Community School District Board of Directors and was president for two years. She was a District Director, Iowa Association of School Boards. Her memberships included the West Des Moines United Methodist Church, Chamber of Commerce, Community Education District-wide Advisory Council, United Way Information and Referral Advisory Council, Iowa and Polk County Women's Political Caucus, Questers, PEO, West Des Moines Women's Club, and Iowa Autism Center Board. She served four years as an Iowa State Representative and was Assistant Majority Leader of the 68th General Assembly (1979 to 1981). She sponsored and authored the 1978 Iowa Community Education Act. She was employed by Brenton Banks until her retirement in 1993.

Pat is survived by her husband, Wayne, her sister, Bette McLuen of Spokane, Washington, daughter, Mary S. Thompson and her husband, Jacques Fortin, of Big Canoe, Georgia; son, Michael D. Thompson and Michelle Montgomery of Henderson, Nevada, son, Mark A. Thompson of Washington, D.C. and his partner, Kirk Thompson, son, Paul G. Thompson and his wife, Jeanne Thompson, of Denver, Colorado, stepdaughter, Elizabeth A. (Beth) Woodworth of West Des Moines, stepdaughter, Amy J. Woodworth and her husband, Scott Goings, of St. Paul, Minnesota, stepson, Eric Woodworth of Des Moines, widow of son Gerald, Catherine R. Thompson and her husband, Paul Hansen, of Kansas City, Missouri, grandchildren, Erika Moser of Long Beach, California, Nicole Peterson of Asheville, North Carolina, Jennifer Thompson of Henderson, Nevada, Richard Thompson of New York, New York, Eric Thompson of Kansas City, Missouri, Hillary Thompson of San Francisco, California, Emma Thompson of Vancouver, British Columbia, and William and Ann Thompson of Denver, Colorado, and step grandchildren, Sam and Charlotte Goings of St. Paul, Minneapolis. Pat was predeceased by her husband, George, in 1993, her son, Gerald L. Thompson, in 2003, and her sisters, Darlene Christenson, Clella Landis, and Cereise Woodworth.

A memorial service will be held at McLaren's Resthaven Chapel, 801 19th Street, West Des Moines on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 2 p.m. Visitation with family will follow the service at the Chapel.

Those wanting to make a memorial contribution may donate to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org) or the Lymphoma Research Foundation (www.lymphoma.org).