Alice Lee “Boots” (Thompson) Sample, 99, passed away peacefully in the morning of April 1, 2022 at her residence in Allen, Texas. She was born on January 29, 1923 in Jeffersonville to the late Homer Allen Lee Thompson and Lucy Anna (Marguet) Thompson.
In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, William Leslie “Bill” Sample. Bill and Alice were married on March 14, 1941 and remained together until Bill’s death on July 8, 1992, enjoying 51 years of marriage.
Boots was also preceded in death by her brothers, Homer Winston “Tub” Thompson and James Hancock “Jim” Thompson along with sisters, Margaret “Marg” Jane Thompson Eichenberger, Virginia Rose “Ginny” Thompson Williams, and Mary Jane “June” Thompson Hall. Alice is survived by her three children, William Allen “Bill” Sample (Mary) of New Albany, Indiana; Steven Leslie “Steve” Sample (Gwen) of Ocala, Florida and Edward Winston “Ed” Sample (Karen) of Allen, Texas. Alice also leaves behind five adoring grandchildren, nine amazing great grandchildren and two wonderful great-great grandchildren along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.
Boots and Bill experienced some of the great life-events during their time together including the Great Depression of 1929, The Flood of 1937, and of course, World War II where Bill served in the Infantry in Italy, being awarded three battle stars for action. Boots said that she never fully realized what all Bill went through during those years until she saw the movie “Saving Private Ryan”, the impact of which nearly broke her heart. She has also experienced the changes brought about by eighteen different presidents during her lifetime, from Harding to Biden.
Boots will be remembered as a true caregiver which was never more evident than the love and compassion she showed to each of her siblings as they reached their end-of-life experience. Her love of life was only exceeded by her love of family. She loved her late brothers-in-law and their wives and children as much as her own siblings and their spouses and children; Gilbert Sample (Dorothy); Frank Sample (Janet), and Charles Sample (Mattie).
Boots and Bill’s marriage took them to different residences across the country from Placerville, California to Englewood, Florida but they always were drawn back to “home” - Jeffersonville. Boots and Bill both graduated from Jeffersonville High School, class of 1940.
Boots led an active and happy life with work experiences ranging from the Indiana Ammunition Depot in the 1950’s, to working as a buyer at Bacon’s Department Store and later as manager of the cafeteria at William E. Wilson School in the 1960’s along with various other jobs in the 1970’s and 80’s.
In 2012 Boots decided to write her life story which detailed her wonderful life experiences in a three edition “trilogy” which can be viewed or downloaded by copying and pasting this link into your browser: https://ws.onehub.com/folders/vof2wwhc.
We will forever hold a place for her in our hearts and won’t be complete until we see her again.
Alice has chosen to be cremated. Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Friday, April 22, 2022 at Scott Funeral Home, 2515 Veterans Parkway, Jeffersonville, Indiana.