Barbara Louise Thompson

Barbara Louise (Willingham) Thompson, a longtime Meridian resident, passed away on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Meridian Nursing Home surrounded by her family. She was 89 years old.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 1pm at Countryside Baptist Church with Kirby Kelly officiating. Interment will follow at Fairlawn Cemetery in Comanche. There will be a family visitation at Whitt Funeral Home on Monday, May 12, from 5:00-7:00pm.
Barbara was born on June 26, 1935 in Paoli, Oklahoma to Victor and Lurlene (Dickinson) Willingham. She graduated from Wayne High School in Wayne, Oklahoma in 1953. On January 9, 1954, she married the love of her life, Wyman Thompson, at the family home in Wayne. After a few months of living in Pauls Valley, they moved to Duncan, Oklahoma where they remained for the rest of their lives. After Wyman accepted a job at Ridley Packing Company in 1954, Barbara followed shortly as an employee. They both worked there until the closing of the plant in 1984. After the closing, Barbara worked at Crutcher's Western Wear as a book keeper. She then worked at First Bank and Trust for several years until Charles Ridley persuaded her to come work for him at the Chevrolet Dealership. She remained there until her retirement in 1991.
Barbara was quite a social bug, she loved people, she loved helping people. She would give you the shirt off of her back or give you the last bite of food that she had if she thought you needed it. Throughout her life, she and Wyman loved to sing and play dominoes. They could be heard on Friday nights at the Comanche Housing Authority as well as local nursing homes. When Alan Wooten opened up the Comanche Opry in Comanche, she was a regular there on Thursday nights where she kept everyone in line with her fly swatter. Later in life, as her health began to decline, she lived at the Chisholm Trail Assisted Living Center. There, she enjoyed playing all kinds of games, but she was especially fond of playing dominoes. She then moved to the Meridian Nursing Home where she was affectionately known as "Boss Lady".
Barbara is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law: Carla Murphy and husband Kyle of Ardmore, OK, Paula Harper and husband Jamie of Meridian, OK, bonus daughter, Drenda Cobb and husband Richard of Marlow; 3 grandchildren: Amy Wilson and husband Mike of Duncan, Dustin Kelman and wife Jessica of Ardmore, James Harper and wife Tammy of Oklahoma City; and great-grandchildren: Emily Wilson of Edmond, Kilian Andersen of Lubeck, Germany, Mikena Wilson, Hunter Wilson of Duncan, Decklan Kelman and Reese Kelman of Ardmore. Other survivors include two sisters: Jeanetta Boles of Rosedale, OK, Charolette DeArman of Paoli, OK; brother, Larry Willingham and wife Pricilla of Edmond, OK; sisters-in-law: Mary Jo Thompson of Colbert, OK, Lana Carter and husband Rusty of Lavon, TX; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband Wyman; granddaughter, Brandi Kelman; parents, Victor and Lurlene Willingham; brother, Aubrey Willingham; father and mother-in-law, Carl and Lena Thompson; brothers-in-law: Bill DeArman, Ed Boles, Myrle Thompson, Gerald Thompson; and sister-in-law, Peggy Willingham.
Pallbearers will be: Dustin Kelman, James Harper, Mike Wilson, Mike DeArman, Tracy Boles, and Brent Boles. Honorary pallbearers are Richard Cobb, Teddy Boles, Dale Cox, Butch Swanson, Patrick Thompson, and Wade Thompson.
The family would like to thank the staff at Meridian Nursing Home and Complete Hospice for taking such good care of Barbara. Thank you just doesn't seem like enough. We are forever grateful to have been blessed by such caring people.
Online condolences may be made at www.whittfh.com.
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