Orpha Leora (Short) Thompson (1995)

SHORT, THOMPSON, KELTNER, CUSHMAN, WATTS, COOK, EHLERS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber (email)
Date: 1/11/2020 at 08:37:36

Kuhn Funeral Home
Dexter, Iowa

Orpha Leora Thompson was born the daughter of Charles and Lena Keltner Short on October 4, 1921 in Redfield, Iowa. Orpha attended Redfield and Dexter schools. On April 8, 1939 Orpha and Leon “Shorty” Thompson were married in Redfield, Iowa. This union was blessed with four children, Robert, Dorothy, Faye and Janice.

Orpha was a nurse at the Dexter Hospital and later in the Stuart Care Center. She also worked for some time at Drew’s Chocolate in Dexter, and did some housecleaning for hire, however she spent most of her career working around the farm as a housewife, mother, and truck driver. Orpha was always busy with her gardening, canning and cooking. However she was never too busy to go bowling. She loved to bowl and was often involved in local, state and national tournaments. Orpha was a member of the Dexter Methodist Church and the Methodist Women’s organization. She was a loyal member of the Dexter American Legion Auxiliary and was awarded the Gold Star for being a member for 50 plus years.

Orpha departed this life on December 14, 1995 in the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines after a short battle with cancer. She leaves the following family to celebrate her life: husband Leon “Shorty” of Dexter, son Robert of Des Moines, daughter Dorothy Cushman of Ankeny, daughter Faye Watts of Stuart, daughter Janice Cook of Winterset, brother Lavern Short of Reno, Nevada, sister Beullah Ehlers of Paradise, California, 14 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.

Orpha was preceded in death by her parents, 6 brothers and sisters, a grandson Rodney Watts, and a granddaughter Valerie Thompson.

Burial was made in the Dexter cemetery.