Barbara Ann Thompson

Barbara Ann Thompson, 78, Kokomo, passed away at 9:30 AM, Thursday, August 2, 2012, at her residence. Born September 12, 1935 in Baltimore Maryland, she was the daughter of Charles E. Hollar and Evelyn T. (Reese) Hollar. On June 26, 1954 she married Sherman W. Thompson of Kokomo, IN. She was a 1953 graduate of Arundel High School, Gambrills, Md. She attended Charlotte Vocational-Technical Center in Port Charlotte, Fl. and Edison Community College, Port Charlotte Campus. Upon her graduation from High School she enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was stationed at Quantico, Va. as a Staff Office Clerk from 1953 to 1954. She worked for many years in the Howard County Clerk's office as Deputy to Clifford Lineback, long time Howard County Clerk. She was also a legal secretary in Kokomo for the firm of O'Mahoney, Mahoney and Simmons for several years. The last five years that she worked in Kokomo were as Court Reporter to Judge Robert S. Whitehead. She helped Judge Whitehead set up the first Howard County Court (now Superior Court III) and was recognized by the Judge and members of the Bar as the "Girl Friday" of the Court. She retired from public service in 1980 and upon her husband's retirement in 1985 they moved to Port Charlotte, Fl. where she again was employed as a legal secretary for several years. Later, she worked in the Trust Department of Sun Bank and Trust for 5 years and as the Administrative Assistant to both the Administrator and Director of Nursing for South Port Square Retirement Community in Port Charlotte for 3 and a half years. She and her husband returned to Kokomo in 1996 when his health deteriorated, in order to be closer to family. She did volunteer work at Howard Community Hospital for a time and worked as a sales associate at Lazarus in the Markland Mall. She was a charter member of Women in Military Service for America – the Women's Memorial Foundation in Washington D.C. and a member of The Women Marines Association, FL-6 Chapter in Port Charlotte, Fl. as well as a past member of The Women Marines Association, IN-1 Chapter in Indianapolis, In. She was a past member of Sigma Phi Gamma Sorority and a past member of American Business Women's Association. She was preceded in death by her parents. Surviving are her husband Sherman W. Thompson, Kokomo, In. Son and daughter-in-law Michael A. and Ruth E. Thompson, Kokomo, In. Daughter and son-in-law Shari L. and William L. Monroe, Summerville, SC. Four grandchildren, Jessica L. Papai (Thompson) and her husband Jason Sr., Kokomo, In. Michael A. Thompson Jr. and his Fiancé Melissa Paschke, Westfield, In. Lindsay D. Edens (Parham) and her husband Curtis, Galveston, In. and Chelsea L. Parham, Summerville, SC. Three great grandchildren, Jason M. Papai Jr. and Raegan Papai, Kokomo, In. and Lucie Parham Battle, Summerville, SC. Step granddaughter Beth (Parham) Rakestraw and her husband John, Kokomo, In. Three step great grandchildren, Brielle, Macy and Morgan Rakestraw, Kokomo, In. Brother-in–law, Raymond Thompson and his wife Carol, Kokomo, In. Nephew, Mark R. Thompson, Kokomo, In. Cousin, Ralph "Skip" Nordan and his son Andrew of Scotland as well as several cousins living in Maryland. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM Friday at Ellers Mortuary Webster Street Chapel, 3400 S. Webster Street, with Dr. Mary Rudy Officiating. Burial of cremated remains will follow at Sunset Memory Gardens Cemetery with military honors by the United States Marines and the Kokomo V.F.W. Military Rites Team. Friends may visit with the family from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, two hours prior to the service at the funeral home. Barbara and Sherman are asking that instead of flowers, family and friends make contributions to Guardian Angel Hospice, 513 W. Lincoln Road Kokomo.