Barbara A. Thompson
September 22, 1947 - December 1, 2022
"Her absence is like the sky, spread over everything."
~C.S. Lewis
Barbara "Barb" Ann Thompson of Leesburg, Va was born on September 22, 1947 in Baltimore, Maryland and passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends on December1, 2022. She was the second of three children born to Philip R. Pane and Josephine L. Pane. Her father was a logistics advisor with the Department of the Army and her parents and siblings moved frequently--within the United States as well as internationally. Some of her most cherished childhood memories were from the years of living in France and taking the train to Paris on Sundays for shopping and dining.
Following graduation from J.E.B. Stuart High School in Falls Church, Virginia she became employed by C&P Telephone Company in Washington, DC. After a short time with the telephone company, she began a career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. When Barbara moved to Loudoun County in the early 70's, she began working for the Department of Defense.
Barbara met the love of her life and devoted husband of 49 years, Richard "Rick" M. Thompson Jr. in November 1971 at Hunter's Lodge in Fairfax, VA. After a three month courtship, the two became engaged on Valentine's Day in 1972 and married on July 1st of that year. Richard and Barbara had one daughter Christina "Christy". Prior to the birth of their daughter, Rick and Barb could be found dancing the night away nearly every Saturday evening at Hunter's Lodge.
Barbara loved the beach and in her younger years, she eagerly awaited her family summer vacations in the Outer Banks. Later in life, she enjoyed being pampered with her family--enjoying the all-inclusive life and getting some well deserved R&R in the sun.
She was the proud "Nanny" of three grandchildren, Alex, Olivia "Grace", and Beau Pierce; and treasured her time spent with them--delighting in spoiling them with her love and attention.
Always so hospitable and generous, Barb frequently hosted family gatherings and rarely missed attending family related events with her nieces, great nieces, and nephews. Cherished memories were created on beach vacations in the Outer Banks.
Wanting to stay active following her retirement from the Federal Government in 2003, Barbara chose to become more involved in her community-- lending her time to Birthright crisis pregnancy center in Leesburg, VA and working within the Loudoun County Public School System. When her late husband's health began to fail, she made the decision to retire from the school system and become his full-time caregiver.
Barbara was a devout Catholic and had a true Christian heart--giving of her time, love, and affection to family and friends. She was a longtime parishioner of St. John the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Leesburg, VA for nearly 50 years where she contributed her time as an usher for Sunday mass. Following her diagnosis of lymphoma in 2020, she volunteered to participate in a University of Virginia study in hopes of advancing research in the fight against cancer.
Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Rick on July 12, 2021. She is survived by her daughter Christy Pierce and her three grandchildren, Alex Pierce, Grace Pierce, and Beau Pierce. An elder brother Richard Pane and younger sister Sharon Kane; sisters-in-law Thelma Brown and Barbara Hoy Powell, brother-in-law Bill Powell, nieces Charlet Hoy Shriner, Kathleen Haley, Jessica Pane Romero, Lauren White, Diane Blue and Caroline Kane; nephew Philip Kane and several great nieces and nephews; cousins and friends--two in particular she cherished are Sandra "Sandy" Pierce and former sister-in-law Susan Rowan.
A 10:00 AM full Catholic funeral mass will be held on Friday, December 9 at St. John the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Leesburg, VA with a graveside service to follow at Chestnut Grove Cemetery in Herndon, VA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Birthright Crisis Pregnancy Center in Leesburg, VA.
https://www.colonialfuneralhome.com/obituary/barbara-thompson