Obituary of Lois Elaine Thompson

Lois Elaine Clayburne Thompson was the youngest of five children born to the late John and Otelia Allen Clayburne.  She was a graduate of Woodbury High School Class of 1955 and went on to earn a business degree from Pierce Junior College in Philadelphia.  Lois was the quintessential professional; she enjoyed a career in office management that spanned over thirty years with companies such as RCA, Scott Paper Company, and Campbell Soup.  She spent the latter part of her career at UMDNJ at their Stratford and Camden campuses, and retired from the Philadelphia School of Osteopathic Medicine in the late nineties.  In her retirement, Lois put her organizational skills into a successful home-based business selling wind chimes at craft shows throughout the South Jersey area.

Lois enjoyed watching movies, hopping a bus to the Atlantic City casinos, and lunch dates with friends. Her very special high school friendships lasted a lifetime and she never missed a class reunion.  No one loved shopping more than Lois.  Whether downtown Philadelphia, the mall, HSN, QVC or Cowtown, she was certainly the “shop ‘til you drop” type -- but she never dropped!  Be it a work day or the weekend, Lois never stepped outdoors without being dressed to the nines.  She loved fashion, and was sure to be accessorized from head to toe, looking like she just stepped out of Vogue magazine.   Lois was generous with love and with time. Thoughtful of others, she was a pro in finding the most original and personally suited gifts.  Lois also enjoyed traveling to the Caribbean as well as closer destinations such as Lancaster County and the Jersey shore, where she spent many summer vacations in Wildwood or Atlantic City.  Although she wasn’t really the “outdoors type,” she even enjoyed some time camping with her daughter and her family, stylish clothing in tow.  

Affectionately known as “Mimi” to her family, Lois was loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who regaled in spending time with her family.  When her grandsons were growing up she loved having them over for the weekend and she never missed an event in which they were participating.  Watching movies together, shopping, of course, and eating out in restaurants were often highlights of those visits.  As her illness progressed, her great-grandchildren brought her the most joy.  Whether it was during in-person visits or while looking at their photos, those moments brought the biggest smiles, loudest laughter, and her eyes filled with adoration.  She loved us all fiercely. 

Lois was preceded in death by two brothers, Bobby and Jack Clayburne, and sister Connie Carter.  Her memory will be forever cherished by her daughter Karen Washington and son-in-law Melvin Washington of Willingboro, NJ, and her grandsons Aaron Washington (Emily) of Tarrytown, NY, and Joshua Washington (Nicole) of Marlton, NJ.  Also left to cherish her memory are her great-grandchildren Alejandro, Lila and Leanna, her sister Phyllis Thompson of Westville, NJ and special nieces Valerie Stancill of Voorhees, NJ and Khia Abanyie of Pennsauken, NJ.

Relatives & friends are invited to the Visitation on Tuesday from 10 to 11 AM at the Falco Caruso & Leonard Funeral Home, 6600 N. Browning Road in Pennsauken. A Memorial Service will be celebrated at 11 AM. At the request of the family, final disposition will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Alzheimer's Foundation of America 322 8th Ave #700 New York, NY 10001 or Susan G. Komen Fund 2 Princess RD Suite D Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.