Ethel Lorene Thompson, of Westphalia, formerly of Dixon, was born on May 18, 1934, at Dixon, a daughter of George Adam and Velma Lee (Young) Fritchey, and departed this life at 11:58 a.m., Monday, June 10, 2013, in the Westphalia Hills, Westphalia, after bravely battling cancer for 10 months. Mrs. Thompson had attained the age of 79 years and 22 days.

Mrs. Thompson was united in marriage on April 7, 1951, at the Assembly of God Church, Dixon, to James Alex Thompson and to this union, three sons were born. She was preceded in death by her parents and five brothers: Edward, Gene, Earl, Wayne and Homer Fritchey.

Mrs. Thompson was baptized early in life and was called to preach at the age of thirteen years. She has forever had a deep love for the Lord. She started her Pastoral duties at the age of seventeen and continued such until just months before her passing. Mrs. Thompson was a hard worker who continued to preach, mother, and work full time until her retirement from Maytag. In her younger years she enjoyed; fishing, attending gospel singings and spending time with her grandkids. In her elder years she enjoyed shopping, crafts and visiting with friends and family. Her favorite past time was simply being side by side with her best friend; her husband.

Those left to cherish the memories of Mrs. Thompson include: her husband of 62 years, James A. Thompson, Westphalia; three sons and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Charolett Thompson, Dixon; Randall Thompson, Linn Creek and Scott Thompson, Oil City, Pennsylvania; two brothers, George Fritchey, Jr. and Donald Fritchey, both of Dixon; two sisters, Velma Lee Thompson and Betty Davis, both of Rolla; four grandchildren, Rhonda (Rob) Maddox, Jimmy Thompson, Joey Thompson and Nichole (Mike) Thompson-Welschmeyer; seven great-grandchildren, Justin, Skylar, Haleigh, Brooklyn, Ryder, Cassie and Ethan; three great-great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted for Mrs. Thompson at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 13, 2013, in the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Chapel, Dixon, with Pastor Russell Summers, officiating and Bro. Darr read the obituary. Songs selected for the service were "Far Side Banks of Jordan", "I Won't Have To Cross Jordan Alone" and "When I Get To Where I'm Going".

Interment was in the Seaton Cemetery near Dixon, under the direction of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Dixon. Pallbearers for Mrs. Thompson were Jimmy Thompson, Joey Thompson, Justin Thompson, Jesse Boehm, Mike Welschmeyer and Rob Maddox. Honorary pallbearers were Skylar Maddox, Haleigh Thompson-Nelson, Brooklyn Atterberry and Ryder Allen.