Helen Thomson
December 14, 1905 — October 2, 2014
Helen Louise Thomson, 108, of Largo, Florida, formerly of Galva, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 2, 2014 at Oak Manor in Largo. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 11 th , at the Galva Chapel of Stackhouse-Moore Funeral Services. Rev. Martha Jean Fitch will officiate. Burial will be at the Galva Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to the Galva Public Library or the Henry County Humane Society.
Helen Louise Waters was born on December 14, 1905 in rural Knox County, Illinois, in an area known as “Log City”, the first of five girls and one boy to Orville and Jenny Craver Waters. She attended a one-room schoolhouse and upon completion of her elementary studies, she drove a horse and buggy the four miles to Galesburg each day, graduating from St. Mary’s Academy in 1925. Her marriage to Willard L. “Bill” Thomson took place on June 26, 1926 in Rock Island, Illinois. The couple moved to Galva where Bill was the general manager of the Ralph C. Dixon Co., the forerunner of Dixline Corporation.
After 48 years, Helen and Bill retired to Treasure Island, Florida. Helen was a mother and housewife. She was a member of the Congregational Church, a former Treasure Island Islette, and she enjoyed golf, gardening, and was an avid bridge player. Her casket hardware was specially crafted by the loyal employees of Dixline Corporation and was personalized by her immediate family.
Those surviving are two daughters, Ruth A. (Jack) Walker, Canton, IL, Margaret L.“Midge” Eaton, Seminole, FL, a son, Willard P. (Martha) Thomson, Galva, eight grandchildren, Karin (Wayne) McIntire, Galva, Rebecca (Matthew) Marchand, Galva, Kevin (Shirley) Thomson, Kewanee, David Thomson (Tom Paleka), Glen Ellyn, IL, Kyle (Susan) Eaton, St. Petersburg, FL, Timothy (Patty) Eaton, Winston-Salem, NC, Mitchel Walker, Marshalltown, IA, and Shelly (Dave) Henderson, Kansas City, KS. Other survivors include 19 great grandchildren, five great great grandchildren, a sister, Jane (Merle) Strong, Montrose, CO, and several nieces and nephews. Her parents, her husband, a son, Thomas Steven Thomson (1942-1954), three sisters, and a brother preceded her in death.