Marjorie Thompson

Marjorie Thompson, 86, passed away October 14, 2026. Marge was the youngest child of John and Ethel Wright from Malta, IL. Preceded by her parents and her death follows the passing of all her other siblings: Hardin, Florence, Kenneth, Carol, and Lura. Marge is survived by her husband; Arnold “Arne” or “Theo” Thompson, her four children; Greg (Elizabeth), Nate (Katie), Sarah (Shane), and Laura (Brad), her eleven grandchildren; Tamika (Wes), Emma “Echo” (Sarah), Lydia, Kayla, Simone, Dryden, Anthony, Sophia, Joshua, Zachary, and Elijah, and her two great-grandchildren; Justin and Roman.

When Marjorie Wright married Arnold “Theo” Thompson on August 12, 1962, a great adventure began. Marge supported Theo and herself as a teacher while he was finishing medical school in Iowa. They attended missions training in New York then served in Nigeria in the cities of Garkida and Bambur. Sons Greg and Nate were born there. While Theo was saving lives in the local hospitals, Marge was teaching history in a local training school as well as Montessori-type preschool for children of missionaries and other hospital workers.

Following Nigeria, they lived in southern California from 1972 – 1980. These years included the adoption of Sarah in 1974. Marge’s father-in-law Joe Thompson moved in with the family after suffering a stroke. Laura was adopted into the family in 1979.

Their journey continued with serving briefly in Jackson, MS, then five years in Taiwan (1981-86). After four years in Wheaton, IL, she served with Theo on the Navajo and Hopi Reservations from 1990 – 2002 and continued working nearby in Fredonia, AZ until 2006. Her last international service was in East Jerusalem 2006 – 2011.

No matter where Marge and Theo went, she was always engaged in teaching children, caring for family and community, and supporting worship through playing the piano among other things. Frequent location moves required constant revising of the home and the ever-developing work of making the home available to the family; immediate, extended, and community families. Even following “retirement” in 2011, Marge lived with and home-schooled her grandchildren in Ohio for fifteen years. She and Theo found a valued community in Beth Messiah and were building one at Rittenhouse Village.

In lieu of flowers donations may be to Beth Messiah Congregation www.bethmessiah.org

A Graveside service will be at 2:00pm, Thursday, October 22, 2026 at Riverside Cemetery, 3840 Sunbury Rd, Columbus with a Memorial Service to follow at 3:00 pm at Beth Messiah Congregation, 4950 Morse Road, Columbus.
zoom link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/2045564582