ANNABELL THOMSON
Annabell (Lupton) Thomson died peacefully, surrounded by family, on March 2, 2024 in Kincardine. She previously resided in Downie Township / Perth South.
She was born on Jan. 7, 1938 and lived on the family farm in Zorra Township.
She was predeceased by her husband John McKay Thomson in 1977.
Beloved mother of Calvin (Shelley Bonnett), Joan (David Harvie) and Leanne (Peter Humble), and cherished grandmother of Spencer and Ella Humble.
She is survived by her sisters Beatrice (Bea) Chafee, Jessie (Sheldon) Hahn, Phyllis Wilhelm (Jim McKay) and Bonnie Lupton, her brother Ron (Sandy) Lupton, her brother and sister-in-law Jim and Elaine Thomson, and by many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents Ronald and Annie (Gibb) Lupton, her father and mother in-law James and Gretta (McKay) Thomson, her brother Fraser Lupton, her sisters Edith Forrest and Agnes Quast, her brothers-in-law Hugh Forrest, Art Quast, Robert (Bob) Chafee and Ken Wilhelm, and her niece Nancy (Wilhelm) Pate.
Annabell earned her teaching certification from Stratford Teacher’s College and started teaching at the age of 17. Following her marriage, she and John started a dairy operation, which she continued to run for many years, after John’s unexpected death, with her son Calvin.
Annabell was devoted to municipal government and volunteer work. She served 29 years in elected office in Downie Township / Perth South. She was a trail blazer, and a woman of principle. She was the first woman Councillor, first woman Deputy Reeve and first woman Reeve, culminating her career as Warden of Perth County in 2003.
She was a woman of faith and an Elder in her church. She volunteered with many community groups, including the Stratford Co-op, Farm Safety, 4H, Elm Grove Women’s Institute and Perth Community Futures. In 2012 she was recognized for her long-standing municipal and community involvement and received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal.
Unfortunately, she developed vascular dementia, but was able to move in 2018 to live with family in Kincardine, where she enjoyed attending Spencer and Ella’s birthday parties, graduations and many sporting events.
She is beloved.
Family and friends may gather at the W.G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron Streeet in Stratford from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
The funeral service will be held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 25 St. Andrew Street in Stratford, at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2024, with Rev. Mark Wolfe officiating, and will be followed by a reception.
A private family interment will take place at Knox Presbyterian Church cemetery, Harrington.
As expressions of sympathy, donations to Heart and Stroke, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church or the Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation can be made through the funeral home at 519-271-7411; www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com.