Sondra Elnora Thompson

Sondra was born in Caldwell, Missouri to Raymond and Chloe Davis. She moved with her 5 siblings and mother to Bakersfield, California by train when she was 10 years old to join her father who had already moved to Bakersfield for work. She attended East Bakersfield High School. In 1957, a year after graduating from high school, she and her friend Wanda were cruising Chester Avenue on the same night as Larry and his friend Warren. The four of them met up later that night at Michener's drive-in for a soda pop. She told her friend that same night, "I'm going to marry that man!" A month later, Sondra and Larry eloped to Las Vegas with their best friends Gordon and Shirley, and Janice and Luis, who had also planned to elope that day.

Shortly after Sondra and Larry married, they had 2 children, Denise Thompson Myers and David Thompson. Sondra was a dedicated housewife for many years while raising their children. She enjoyed family vacations and camping trips with friends.

Later, Sondra had a career with Gottschalks department store, where she worked for 18 years.

Sondra enjoyed having holiday celebrations in her home, where it would be filled with family and her homemade cooking. She was well known by all of her close friends and family for her baked goods, especially her homemade cinnamon rolls, rum cakes, and cheese logs.

Sondra enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed going out to dinner with her husband to local restaurants such as Pizzaville, Tony's Firehouse Pizza, and Mexicali, where she was always treated like family.

She sparkled on the inside just like her jewelry did on the outside. Sondra made many friends over the years during her and Larry's weekly visits to Rogers Jewelry. She loved her jewelry ALMOST as much as she loved Larry.

Sondra is preceded in death by her father Raymond Davis, mother Chloe Davis, stepfather Bob Lytle, brother Gary Davis, and son David Thompson.

Sondra is survived by her husband Lawrence (Larry) Denzil Thompson Jr., sisters June Evans, and Carrie Stuck, brothers Dale Davis, and Gale Davis, daughter Denise Thompson Myers, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hillcrestmemorial.com for the Thompson family.