Florence Marie Thompson, 74

BLACKBIRD - Florence Marie Thompson of Blackbird passed away Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007, surrounded by her loving family, in Christiana Care-Christiana Hospital, Newark, following a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was 74.

Mrs. Thompson was born Nov. 21, 1932, in Wilmington, daughter of the late Alfred and Helen (Jones) Shackleton.

She was a homemaker who enjoyed spending time with her family.

Mrs. Thompson was fond of going to the beach, visiting yard sales and playing the slot machines at Dover Downs. Other hobbies included arts and crafts and playing cards and scrabble.

She was an active member of the Blackbird Community Center, and was noted to be a good cook.

A loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Mrs. Thompson is survived by her husband of 57 years, Eugene S. Thompson Jr.; two sons, Eugene S. Thompson III and his wife Joy of Sudlersville, Md., and Donnie Thompson and his wife Carol of Newark; three daughters, Sharon Marie Ogden and her husband Bill of Clayton, Margie Gillespie of Dover, and Ruth Ann Alexander and her husband Kevin of Smyrna; two sisters, Sarah Steele of Covington, Va., and Helen Stradley of Granville, Ohio; a brother, Dalton Shackleton of Newark; 17 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be noon Wednesday in the Faries Funeral Chapel, 29 S. Main St., Smyrna. Friends may call one hour prior to the services. Burial will be at Glenwood Cemetery, Smyrna.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Blackbird Community Center, c/o Joe Mannering, 144 Blackbird Forest Road, Townsend, DE 19734.