Wanda S. Thompson

Wanda Thompson Wanda Thompson, of Austin, Texas, passed away on September 4, 2005. She was born on February 13, 1915, to John Samuel Austin Stephens and Effie Katherine Sapp Stephens in Timpson, Texas, where she spent her childhood and graduated high school. Leaving “Deep East Texas”, she moved to Austin to become secretary to Dewitt C. Greer at the State Highway Department. Here she met and married J. Neils Thompson on August 3, 1940, in the University United Methodist Church, where they maintained life-long membership. Wanda was devoted to the University of Texas, where Neils was a Professor Emeritus in Civil Engineering. Together, they were instrumental in the progress of the University through involvement in intercollegiate athletics, Balcones Research Center and the Department of Engineering. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Wayne Laitala of Richardson, Texas; grandsons, Michael Neils Laitala of Denver, Colorado, and David Thompson Laitala of Austin, Texas; nephew, Harry Sockol and wife, Kay of Lake Travis; and aunt, Ercyl Tipton of Jacksboro, Texas. Wanda stayed in her home with the serene views of the Taylor Slough trees with the assistance of many wonderful caregivers. The family wishes to express its appreciation to Dolores Chacon, Ronda Beans, Antonia Mendez, Frances Dembly, Delores Ellis, Eloisa Gutierrez and Lydia Saucedo for their loyal companionship. A memorial service will be held at Weed Corley-Fish Chapel on Wednesday, September 7th at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the J. Neils Thompson Graduate Fellowship in Structural Engineering or the J. Neils Thompson Centennial Teaching Fellowship in Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, P. O. Box 7458, Austin, Texas 78713-7458. Obituary and guestbook available online at wcfish.com