Rose Mary Thompson

Rose Mary Thompson, 78, wife, mother, grandmother, writer, teacher, engineer and patriot, transitioned from her earthly life August 15, 2022. She was born to Malcolm and Ada Rose (O’Quinn) Thompson August 24, 1943, in Cambridge, MA. Her earliest years to age 6 were in Atlanta, GA. The next 64 years mostly were in southern California. Then, in retirement, she moved to Hawaii for 7 years and finally back to Atlanta.

Rose Mary attended Bellflower HS where she enjoyed working on the school newspaper and playing on the tennis team. From there she went to California Polytechnic University, Pomona, where she was the first woman to be admitted and to graduate from CalPoly’s Engineering School. Though she sometimes described herself as having been trained as a “metal bender” she graduated as an electronic engineer. Thus prepared, she embarked on a career in the defense industry. She served as an officer in the US Air Force for 9 years, exiting with the rank of Captain. While in the Air Force, Rose Mary served as a WAF squadron commander in Thailand supporting the war in Vietnam. She was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal earned for direct hands-on employment of a weapon system that had a direct and immediate impact on a combat operation or other military operation. During this period she also earned her MBA from University of Southern California. Among the defense industry firms for which she worked were IBM, The Aerospace Corporation, Hughes, Logicon, Ultrasystems and SAIC with project assignments in Germany and South Korea. CalPoly named Rose Mary their Distinguished Outstanding Alumnus ten years following her graduation. She was the first woman so recognized. The Aerospace Corporation also recognized her as their Woman of the Year.

At the age of 35, Rose Mary met Stanley Yon at a church party in Santa Monica. Four weeks later they were engaged. They married in another six weeks. Both were avid readers. Each had 3,000 volume book collections. When the collections were merged, the only duplicates were their Bibles – though they were different versions. Friends said the marriage would not last. It did. 43 years.

Soon Rose Mary and Stanley were blessed with two fine sons, Christopher and Jeremy. Their active parenting included several years where Rose Mary was a backstage “Nutcracker mom” as Christopher danced with the Joffrey and Long Beach Ballets. Rose Mary was immensely proud of both sons and their families.

While working as an electronic and systems engineer, Rose Mary was active in professional associations, most notably the Society of Women Engineers and the Association of Old Crows. With the SWE she travelled around the country speaking to and encouraging girls and young women to study math and science and to pursue careers in engineering. Throughout this period Rose Mary found great joy in ballroom dancing.

Upon retirement from the defense industry Rose Mary continued to work for a number of years as a substitute math and science teacher in private schools throughout metropolitan Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Rose Mary wrote. She mostly wrote articles and short stories. The project closest to her heart was a three volume historical novel elucidating the roles of women during wartimes most specifically World War I. She also was working on her memoirs.

Later in life she pursued other diverse interests. Rose Mary’s activity with the US-China Peoples Friendship Association included travel to China where she attended the Shanghai Expo and also traveled with President Jimmy Carter to dedicate a museum honoring General Chennault and the Flying Tigers for their valiant efforts during World War II. She also was active with the Caledonian Society in Honolulu as well as Sisters in Crime, a mystery writers group.

Rose Mary’s faith was important to her. She was particularly active with the Episcopal Church. She took great pride in having established a bookstore at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, CA. The bookstore continues to thrive nearly ten years after her moving to Hawaii. She especially enjoyed volunteering at St. Luke’s Brass Rubbing Center, particularly working with groups of school children. Rose Mary served the Diocese of Los Angeles as a dedicated member of the Commission for Middle East Peace. The Daughters of the King was especially important to her as she actively served in California and Hawaii. She also valued contemplative retreats twice yearly at the Mount Calvary monastery in Santa Barbara. Since returning to Atlanta, Rose Mary has been a member of the Cathedral of St. Philip, volunteered at the Cathedral Bookstore and was active with the St. Veronica’s Guild.

Rose Mary is survived by her loving husband, Stanley Yon, their two sons, Christopher Yon (Taryn Griggs) of Winston-Salem and Jeremy Yon (Leona Warner) of Seattle and their daughters Beatrix Yon and Tamiyah Lockhart, respectively. Finally, she is survived by her most dear sister, Nancy Thompson of Redondo Beach, CA.

Services will be held Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 2:00 pm at the Cathedral of St. Philip, Mikell Chapel, in Atlanta, GA.

Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 3:00 pm at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach, CA.

Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 10:00 am at Church of the Holy Nativity in Aina Haina, HI with a committal and inurnment to follow at 1:00 pm at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) in Honolulu, HI.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/10887143.