Virginia Lee Thomson

Virginia L. Thomson, 86, of Waukon, IA, died Saturday, August 29, 2015, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Saturday, November 14th, at 11:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church in Waukon, with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Private family burial will be held at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements for the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to P.E.O. women's scholarship funds via P.E.O. Chapter EK c/o Caroll Schreiber, Treasurer, 1942 French Creek Road, Lansing, IA 52151.


Virginia Lee Peck Thomson was born December 15, 1928, in Mason City, IA, the daughter of Henry A. and Elizabeth (Welsh) Peck. She attended Garner schools and graduated from Garner High School as valedictorian of the class of 1946. Virginia received a BA in Business Education from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, IA in 1950 and attended the University of Iowa and Iowa State University for post-graduate classes. On June 10, 1951, she married James Edward Thomson at United Presbyterian Church in Garner, IA.  Before she was married she taught high school business classes in Carroll, IA, and following marriage she taught in Springville, IA and Gilbert, IA.


Virginia was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Waukon, where she sang in the choir, and served as a trustee, elder, Sunday school teacher, and on various special committees. She was also an officer of United Presbyterian Women locally, in Northeast Iowa, and for the John Knox Presbytery. Virginia was active in several local organizations throughout the years including Waukon Toastmistresses, New Century Club, and Chapter EK P.E.O.


She enjoyed traveling in North America, Europe, and Egypt. Virginia was an avid reader and a political junkie. She believed strongly in equality and wishes to be remembered as a Christian and a feminist.


Survivors include her husband James Thomson of Waukon, IA; three children: John (Dayna) Thomson, Jeanne Thomson James, and Janice (Michel Gilbert) Thomson; two grandchildren: Andrew James and Clementine Gilbert; a sister Marilyn Bentley; a sister-in-law Corinne Peck; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents; a son-in-law David James; and three brothers: Donald Peck, Lowell Peck, and Rev. John Henry Peck.