Gela A. Thompson of Houston, formerly of Greenville, passed away on May 24, 2016 after a long struggle with dementia. She was born on October 21, 1920 in Waco, Texas to Dorothy Theresa Lange Dutton and George Ward Dutton. In January of 1936, the family moved to Greenville where she resided until moving to Houston in 2005.
Gela graduated from Greenville High School in 1938, where she was a flag bearer for the Flaming Flashes. She was also the Band Sweetheart for one year. In May, 1942, she received her BA degree in Homemaking from East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce. She spent the next 2 years in Mt. Pleasant teaching home economics. In May of 1966, she received her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from ETSTC. Gela was a third grade teacher at Crockett Elementary in Greenville for 16 years.
Retiring in 1982, Gela held a life membership in the Texas State Teachers Association and Texas Retired Teachers Association. She was a member of Central Christian Church in Greenville where she held the offices of Treasurer of the General Board, Treasurer and President of the Christian Women’s Fellowship and also served as a Deaconess.
On January 12, 1946, she was married to Medford L. Thompson, who preceded her in death on June 15, 1991. They had two sons, Mark Alan Thompson of Houston and Gary Wayne Thompson of Greenville. Other survivors include daughters-in-law, Susan Thompson of Houston and Deborah Thompson of Greenville; grandchildren, Sarah (Ben) Becker, Maura, Matthew and Christopher Thompson, Ben (Jenny) Thompson, Shaun (Cyndi) Kirk and Monica Kirk; and great-grandchildren, Jessica Thompson, Henry Thompson, Elizabeth Catherine Becker, Eric Alan Becker, Madeleine Grace Becker, Ryan Kirk and Shelby Kirk.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Mrs. Eugene Earley of Greenville, a brother, George Roy Dutton of Tampa, Florida and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and many friends.
Funeral services will be 10:00 AM, Saturday, May 28, 2016 at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Steve Price officiating. Interment will be in Memoryland Memorial Park. Visitation will be 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Friday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Ben Thompson, Shaun Kirk, Matthew Thompson, Christopher Thompson, Ben Becker and Bob Trad. Honorary pallbearers will be John Harvey, Martin Thompson, Scott Dutton, Dane Dutton and Bobby Reynolds.
The family requests memorials be made to Central Christian Church in Greenville.