WARREN Roberta ''Berty'' Taylor Thompson, 78, died Monday, Aug. 30, 2010, at the University Hospital in Cleveland after slipping into a coma.
She was born Feb. 26, 1932, in Greensburg, Pa., where she graduated high school in 1949.
Berty and A. Robert ''Bob'' Thompson were married on May 17, 1951.
As a young mother, Berty organized the Bicycle Safety Program in Youngstown. She was previously active in the Rebecca Williams Community Center and had previously served on the Board of Directors and Auxiliary. She was a past Girl Scout leader, past co-chairwoman for the March of Dimes in Warren, and previously helped with the American Red Cross.
Berty was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Warren since 1957. For many years she was an active member of the Willing Workers Sunday School class and most recently the Bountiful Blessings class. Earlier in her church life she had directed Vacation Bible School, was Sunday School Superintendent and chaired the Mother-Daughter Banquet Committee.
Berty enjoyed sewing and from the time she was a small child, made doll clothes and her own clothes. Once she was married, she made her daughter's clothes, wedding dress, curtains and anything for the home. When her granddaughters were small, she made dozens of Cabbage Patch doll clothes for them. She progressed to needlework and was proficient in counted cross-stitch, among other forms of embroidery.
She was a charter member of the Western Reserve EGA (past president), member of the Youngstown chapter of EGA, past Education Chairperson of the Great Lakes Regional EGA, member of the Stan Hewitt Society, the Ohio Historical Society and the Words of Wisdom group. Her exquisite needlework was shown at various national workshops. In April of this year, she attended the regional EGA seminar at Fort Wayne, Ind. Over the years, she received many awards for her needlework.
She enjoyed her family, and they all loved their "Grandma Berty." She made everyone laugh with her sense of humor. She will be missed by all that knew and loved her. When asked how she managed being happily married almost 60 years, her reply was: ''I still feel the world is a better place when Bob walks into the room.'' Such love and devotion are rare and as a family, we are so grateful that she experienced it. We know she is with our Lord now and experiencing an even greater love.
Berty is survived by her loving husband, Robert ''Bob'' and their two children, Terri Thompson Venetta and William ''Bill'' Thompson. She also is survived by five grandchildren, Katie (Shawn) Hamrick, Becky (Scott) McClucas, Abby (Chris) Cyphert, Tracy (Jon) Linton and Rob Thompson. Berty was blessed with nine great-grandchildren, Shawn and Jessica Hamrick, Mollie and Monica Lough, Isaac and Isabella Linton, Kaylie and Chase Thompson, Riley Cyphert and her ''adopted'' granddaughter, Adrieanna Felicetty. She is also survived by her sister, Janet Armistead of Warren and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Grace United Methodist Church on Drexel Avenue in Warren. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and one hour prior to the service at the church. All are invited to a Fellowship Dinner at the church following interment at Kerr Cemetery, 1494 Salt Springs Road, Niles.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Grace U.M. Church Memorial Fund for air conditioning in the Fellowship Hall.
Carl W. Hall Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
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