Mary Alice Thompson

Mary Alice Thompson, 89, of Lancaster, PA passed away Monday, November 28, 2011 at Lancaster General Hospital. She was born in Charleston, WV, and was raised in Newport, KY, Columbus, IN and Louisville, KY. She was the daughter of the late Joseph Michael and Ida (Casada) McDermott. She was the wife of Roger D. Thompson. She and Roger lived in Ft. Wayne, IN, Pompton Plains, NJ, and Princeton, NJ before settling in Lancaster, PA in 1963.

Mary Alice was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. A long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, she enjoyed overseeing the renovation of the kitchen and serving meals to the congregation. Mary Alice also assisted in the organizing and researching of the historical records in preparation for the 250th anniversary of the church. She organized the creation of the anniversary quilt which was signed by the entire congregation. She was involved with the creation of the church’s Memorial Garden, and she was involved with the church’s participation in Town Fair.

Mary Alice was a member of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, and a past member of the Lancaster County Garden Club and Towne Club of Lancaster.

Mary Alice especially enjoyed spending time with her family. Her husband having been a private pilot, they were able to fly to nearly every state, the Bahamas, Prince Edward Island in Canada, and along the entire Atlantic coastline from Maine to Florida. Mary Alice also enjoyed round and other types of traditional dancing with her husband. At home she enjoyed needlework and was an expert in her needlepoint.

In addition to her husband Roger, she is survived by a daughter Ann (Thompson) Caton, wife of Mark Caton of Uniontown, PA; a son, Bruce D. Thompson of East Petersburg, PA; a nephew whom they raised as a son, Ted Adams of Philadelphia; grandsons, Seth W. Caton, husband of Amy (Poli) Caton, and Matthew M. Caton; granddaughter, Marilyn A. Caton; great-grandsons Seth W. Caton II and Casey M. Caton. She was preceded in death by a sister, Joan Adams.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in her memory to the First Presbyterian Church, Mary Alice Thompson Memorial Fund, 140 E. Orange St., Lancaster, PA 17602.