Joan Banks Thompson's life, accomplishments, and influence confirm the fact that greatness and fame are not synonyms. Jo was sensitive, witty, and caring. In times of trouble, she was a solid rock. She saw her husband through medical school; her three sons, Paul, David and Greg, are Ph.D's; her own accomplishments span several fields. Jo was a grandmother par excellence to Dory, Josh, Megan and Walker, alternating fun time with the same life lessons familiar to her sons. She was also quite proud of her daughters-in-law, Diane and Birgit. Jo grew up in Thayer, Missouri. Her beloved father, George Banks, was a Frisco man. She graduated from (S)MSU, and was Springfield's Miss Merry Christmas in 1952. Jo and Richard married on November 25, 1954, in Oakland United Methodist Church. Over the years, without complaint, Jo moved wherever Rich's next opportunity took them and she helped her family adjust. Jo first enjoyed a career as a teacher of high school English. She strongly believed that future teachers of English should have fewer education courses and more attention to learning their subject. Then she worked for several years as a medical records consultant in long term care facilities. She worked with mentally disadvantaged adults and served as Laubach instructor, teaching adults to read. In 2002, Jo and Rich moved "back home" and that's when she hooked up with The Sisters. Oh, my, how Jo loved her Sisters, a wonderful group of Sigma Kappa alums, and how she enjoyed contact with current student members of the sorority. During her long illness, one thing that inspired her to continue dialysis treatments was attending the Sisters' monthly meeting. Jo gave the Valedictory address at Thayer High School in 1950. Some of her words then seem relevant now. "Now, Friends, the program is almost ended. Little remains to us but to say farewell...a word which seems to express so little, yet which actually means so very, verymuch. The farewell we say to you means all the good wishes, affection, and sorrow at parting that words can possibly connote. ...If we were to leave you with a gem of admonition, it would be this: Do not bluff; you will be found out. Do not waste time; you will be sorry. Get all the knowledge you can; you will need it. ...Friends, may good fortune attend us. May you remember only our virtues, forgetting our faults, and may the future years bring you nothing but kind recollections of those who now bid you goodbye."

You are invited to attend a memorial service and reception on Friday, September 26, at 11 a.m., in Wesley United Methodist Church, 922 W. Republic Rd. Inurnment in East Lawn Cemetery will be family only. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the Sierra Club or the National Kidney Foundation. Arrangements are under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel.

(Joan was born in Tulsa, Tulsa Co, OK. Her parents were Dorothy Virginia Trimble and George Ephraim (Eddy) Banks.

Joan married (1) Steve Wilson in 1950 and they were divorced in 1952. One son, Paul Stephen Wilson, was born to this marrige. (Paul later changed his name to Paul Banks Thompson).

Joan married Richard Elliott Thompson on Thanksgiving Day, 25 Nov 1954 with Richard's father, Rev Guy Hill Thompson, officiating.

Two sons, David and Gregory, were born to this marriage)
Thanks Glyn