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Mary Ellen “Mel” <I>Thompson</I> Beach Ela

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Mary Ellen “Mel” Thompson Beach Ela

Birth
Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA
Death
8 Oct 2009 (aged 88)
Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA
Burial
Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA GPS-Latitude: 43.0631105, Longitude: -89.4313699
Plot
Section 4, Lot 073 B, Grave 2
Memorial ID
View Source
Note: No grave marker for this person was located when searching the stated plot
_______________________________________________________________________
Mary Ellen "Mel", age 88, passed away on Thursday Oct. 8, 2009, at Oakwood Village East. She was born the only child of Irene (Worcester) & Floyd Eugene Thompson. Floyd was then the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. Mel moved to Chicago with her parents in 1929, where she attended Evanston Township High School. She graduated from Northwestern University in 1942, where she was an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and elected to Phi Beta Kappa. On Sept. 12, 1942, Mel was united in marriage to P. Goff Beach, who at the time was an officer in the United States Navy and subsequently commanded a PT boat in the South Pacific. In January, 1948 Mel and Goff moved to Madison, where Goff served as an executive of Oscar Mayer Foods, eventually being promoted to CEO and Chairman of the Board. Mel was a wonderful example of a person giving back to the community. She was a civic leader in many charitable causes and service related organizations including American Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, United Way of Dane County, American Cancer Society, and the Attic Angels, serving as its president from 1968-1970. In 1976 when the City of Madison sought to build a new downtown Civic Center, Mel became the co-chairperson of the Madison Civic Center Capital Fund Drive. She was honored as a YWCA "Women of Distinction" in 1991 for her dedicated volunteer work in the community. Besides her extensive commitment to community service throughout her life, Mel was also an avid and adventurous traveler. She enjoyed planning and taking numerous world wide trips with her family and friends. She was a member of Maple Bluff Country Club enjoying tennis, bridge and many friendships. Mel was also a gracious host, often entertaining friends and business associates of her husband, Goff, at their home. Mel had many memorable visits to Northern Wisconsin on Lake Tomahawk and always looked forward to warmer winters in Boca Grande, Florida. Mel was a very loving wife, mother, and grandmother who took great pride in her children's and grandchildren's accomplishments. She always made it a priority to attend their many activities. Her devotion and love for her family was unwavering throughout her life.

The family would like to thank the staff at Oakwood Village East who gave their compassionate care to her during the last years of her life and to the Hospice staff for their care during the last days of her life.
Note: No grave marker for this person was located when searching the stated plot
_______________________________________________________________________
Mary Ellen "Mel", age 88, passed away on Thursday Oct. 8, 2009, at Oakwood Village East. She was born the only child of Irene (Worcester) & Floyd Eugene Thompson. Floyd was then the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. Mel moved to Chicago with her parents in 1929, where she attended Evanston Township High School. She graduated from Northwestern University in 1942, where she was an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and elected to Phi Beta Kappa. On Sept. 12, 1942, Mel was united in marriage to P. Goff Beach, who at the time was an officer in the United States Navy and subsequently commanded a PT boat in the South Pacific. In January, 1948 Mel and Goff moved to Madison, where Goff served as an executive of Oscar Mayer Foods, eventually being promoted to CEO and Chairman of the Board. Mel was a wonderful example of a person giving back to the community. She was a civic leader in many charitable causes and service related organizations including American Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, United Way of Dane County, American Cancer Society, and the Attic Angels, serving as its president from 1968-1970. In 1976 when the City of Madison sought to build a new downtown Civic Center, Mel became the co-chairperson of the Madison Civic Center Capital Fund Drive. She was honored as a YWCA "Women of Distinction" in 1991 for her dedicated volunteer work in the community. Besides her extensive commitment to community service throughout her life, Mel was also an avid and adventurous traveler. She enjoyed planning and taking numerous world wide trips with her family and friends. She was a member of Maple Bluff Country Club enjoying tennis, bridge and many friendships. Mel was also a gracious host, often entertaining friends and business associates of her husband, Goff, at their home. Mel had many memorable visits to Northern Wisconsin on Lake Tomahawk and always looked forward to warmer winters in Boca Grande, Florida. Mel was a very loving wife, mother, and grandmother who took great pride in her children's and grandchildren's accomplishments. She always made it a priority to attend their many activities. Her devotion and love for her family was unwavering throughout her life.

The family would like to thank the staff at Oakwood Village East who gave their compassionate care to her during the last years of her life and to the Hospice staff for their care during the last days of her life.

Bio by: Kathy (Weller) Medick

Gravesite Details

Father: Floyd E. Thompson, Mother: Irene Worcester



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  • Maintained by: P. Perry
  • Originally Created by: Graves
  • Added: Mar 8, 2012
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/86426079/mary_ellen-beach_ela: accessed ), memorial page for Mary Ellen “Mel” Thompson Beach Ela (13 Jan 1921–8 Oct 2009), Find a Grave Memorial ID 86426079, citing Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA; Maintained by P. Perry (contributor 47194541).