Obituary of Florence Gaillard Thompson
Florence Gaillard Thompson passed away peacefully Monday, August 5, 2019, at her home in Fellowship Village, Basking Ridge, NJ. She was 92.
Born in Savannah, Georgia as the second of six children, she grew up in Irvington and West Orange, NJ. On August 19, 1950, she married her high school sweetheart, George Harold Thompson, Jr. (Bud) and together they raised two children, Suzanne and Peter, in Bridgewater, NJ. They enjoyed summers on Long Beach Island with family including a number of her beloved siblings.
In addition to raising her children, Florence was a Vice President and Trust Officer at United National Bank where she enjoyed her role helping people navigate their way through estate matters.
Florence enjoyed travel, golf, cards, singing, and spending time with her family and friends. She had a wonderfully positive outlook on life and carried on bravely after the loss of her husband in January 1987. Determined to move forward with many of their plans for retirement, she researched and purchased a second home in Jensen Beach, Florida where she spent many winters and made many wonderful friends. She also enjoyed traveling the world both near and far. Some of her favorites included Egypt, the Galápagos Islands, Panama Canal, Israel and Europe where she made many memories with family and friends.
Florence was predeceased by her husband Bud, her sisters Jeanne Cleeland and Carol Cameron, and brothers Theodore F. Gaillard, Jr. and John W. Gaillard. She was loved and will be greatly missed by her daughter Suzanne Thompson Brown (James II) and son Peter Gaillard Thompson (Laura née Sloss), grandchildren Kristin Brown Arrigoni (Brian), James Schuyler Brown III (Lauren née Tissot), Rebecca Lynn Samsoe (née Thompson)(Christopher), and Alissa Ann Christensen (née Thompson) (Daniel), as well as five great grandchildren Connor Arrigoni, Khloe, Macie, and James Brown IV, and Alana Samsoe. She will also be greatly missed by her dear brother William W. Gaillard and sister-in-law Valerie of Blue Bell, Pa, and brother-in-law John Cameron of Long Beach Township, NJ.
A private burial will be at Somerset Hills Memorial Park in Basking Ridge, NJ. A celebration of life service will be held on August 31, 2019, at 10:30 am followed by a luncheon at Immanuel Church, 1260 Welsh Road, Lansdale PA 19422. Arrangements are through Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home (https://gcfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/3262/Florence-Thompson/obituary.html#tribute-start) in Basking Ridge, NJ. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Kenya’s Kids (http://www.kenyaskids.org/) of Immanuel Church or THANC Foundation (https://thancfoundation.org/donate/).