Former Princeton resident
LA GRANGE PARK, Ill. — Mary Alice Thompson died April 9 at home. She was 87.
She spent most of her early childhood in McPherson, Kan., and moved with her husband to Wichita, Kan., Philadelphia, Princeton and La Grange Park. She was a Princeton for over 15 years.
She was recognized for her career in music and was the soprano soloist at the Nassau Presbyterian Church while living in Princeton.
Throughout her life she was an active volunteer in numerous organizations including Meals on Wheels and the board of the Westminster Choir College.
She was a lifelong member of P.E.O. International and a member of the local Chapter AE in Princeton. An avid gardener, she enjoyed every form of flowering plant, especially roses.
Encouraged in singing from an early age, she studied voice professionally in New York in the 1940s and toured nationally in off-Broadway productions. She belonged to the Civic Light Opera Company of Los Angeles. She was the guest soprano soloist with symphonies, sang oratorios, taught voice and performed programs of classical music. She continued her singing career as a soprano soloist in her local Presbyterian churches until she retired in 2000.
Wife of the late William Phelps Thompson, stated clerk of the United Presbyterian Church, USA, she is survived by daughters and son-in-law Judith T. and Dwight Koop, and Margaret T. Sewell; son and daughter-in-law William W. and George S. Thompson; and grandchildren Tyler J. Koop, Ryan C. Koop, Jessica L. Thompson, W. Alexander Thompson, Rachel L. Sewell and Matthew H. Sewell.
A celebration of her life will be held 2 p.m. May 3 at the First Presbyterian Church, La Grange, Ill.
Burial will be private at Princeton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the William and Mary Thompson Ecumenical Scholarship Fund with the World Council of Churches, with checks payable to New Covenant Funds; Memo line: Ecumenical Institute-1000010123. Mail to US Conference for the World Council of Churches, 475 Riverside Dr., Suite 1371, New York, NY 10115.
Stories and memories may be posted at [email protected].
