Born November 21, 1919 in Henderson, Kentucky to Arthur Van Fraser and Annie Lee (Kelly) Fraser, Esther grew up in Evansville, Indiana where her father worked for the L & N railroad. She attended Daniel Wertz elementary school and Reitz High school. It was at Reitz where she met Garland Thompson whom she would marry in 1939. Garland worked for Standard Oil of Indiana and their lives finally led them to the home office of Standard Oil in Chicago, Illinois. Following Garland’s death in 1958, Esther went to work for Standard Oil where she held a number of different positions, including the administrative assistant to the corporate secretary of the company. After retiring in 1987, Esther moved to Plano, Texas to be near family.
Esther loved to travel and visited many countries in Europe as well every state in the US with the exception of Alaska. She was an avid ballroom and square dancer. She loved to sew and quilt. She often wrote poetry and short devotionals. She loved children. Even as she suffered from the dementia that eventually overtook her, the presence of one of her grandchildren or great grandchildren always brought a smile to her face.
Esther stepped into the eternal presence of the Lord on December 27, 2012. Esther was a member of Hunters Glen Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. Esther was preceded in death by her brother Benoni Fraser and sister Marguerite Deissler.
She is survived by two sons and daughters in law, Michael and Gail Thompson of London, England and Stephen and Diane Thompson of Plano, Texas. Five grandchildren survive Esther, including Alex Thompson and his wife Mariam of London, England, Aaron Thompson and his wife Stephanie of Los Angeles, California, Amy Dodrill and her husband Wayne of Frisco, Texas, Sarah Faux and her husband Neil of Frisco, Texas and Martha Richard and her husband Charles of McKinney, Texas. Esther’s greatest joy were her eleven great grandchildren who survive her including, Rebecca Richard, Luke Richard, Zachary Richard, Trey Dodrill, Cole Dodrill, Reid Dodrill, Amanda Dodrill, Ashley Faux, Emily Faux, Aiden Faux, and Isabella Thompson.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon, Monday, December 31, 2012, in the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel, Allen, Texas. Esther will be laid to rest in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Evansville, Indiana next to her husband Garland. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Sunday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m., at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, Allen, Texas.