Betty Sander Thompson, 90

JUNE 26, 1929 — APRIL 21, 2020

Betty Sander Thompson, 90, a resident at Stonebridge of Montgomery, Skillman, died on April 21. Born June 26, 1929 in Glenville, West Virginia, Betty spent the later part of her childhood in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Betty Sander Thompson

After graduating high school, Betty took the “Humming Bird” train by herself to enter the University of Cincinnati’s School of Nursing. She graduated in June 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

She played the flute in the orchestra at the University of Cincinnati and there she met fellow flute player, Robert Thompson, who became the love of her life. They went on to marry and spent 64 wonderful years together.

Betty, an avid tennis player, was involved in the USTA (United States Tennis Association) as an umpire and referee. In fact, she was recruited back in 1979 to attend the first official USTA umpire’s certification clinic.

In 1988 Betty received the Edwin Mellor Award for outstanding service as an umpire for the Middle States, USTA. Over the years she worked at a number of professional, collegiate, and junior tournaments as a line umpire, chair umpire, referee, and tournament director.

The Humming Bird was a named train of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.

In 2010 Betty retired and was recognized for her 32 years of service. Betty was an active member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, most recently Chapter AE of Princeton. She was recognized as a 50-year member in 2016. PEO was always near and dear to Betty’s heart. She cherished the many relationships she developed and valued the impact the educational projects had on those women benefiting from them.

She was a member of the Nassau Presbyterian Church.

Betty is predeceased by her husband Robert L. Thompson, Sr. and her parents John and Alice Sander. She is survived by her five children, Robert Thompson, Jr. and his wife Mary Beth; Sandra Pollock; Susan Kurtain and her husband Bill; Steven Thompson; Laurie Randow, her adopted daughter Kathy Cook and her husband Tom. She is also survived by her brother James Sander and her sister Nancy Royalty. She is survived by 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Betty was a remarkable woman whose strength instilled confidence in those who knew and loved her. She was an attentive and loving wife and mother. She will be missed dearly by her family.

Due to the coronavirus the family will celebrate Betty’s life later in the summer when they can all travel and be together safely.