Obit: Thompson, Shirley V. (1926 – 2019)
Transcriber:
stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Thompson, Vinger, Kavanaugh, Shinkle, Crooks, Zarif, Marlatt
Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 27 June 2019
Thompson, Shirley V. (6 AUG 1926 – 14 JUN 2019)
Kansas City, MO. - Shirley V. Thompson, formerly of Marshfield, Wisconsin died
on June 14, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri where she resided with her daughter
and son-in-law. Shirley was born in Greenwood, Wisconsin on August 6, 1926 to
Palmer and Lydia Vinger. After graduation from Greenwood High School she
attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago where she majored in Fashion
Illustration. Upon completion of her studies she worked as an illustrator in
Milwaukee at Chapman's Department Store, followed by a position with L.S. Ayres
Department Store in Indianapolis. In Indianapolis she met Richard (Dick)
Thompson who was attending Lincoln Chiropractic School and they married in
Greenwood Wisconsin on November 29, 1947. After their marriage they resided in
Rockville, Maryland where Dick opened a chiropractic practice and Shirley worked
as an illustrator at Jellefs Department Store. When Dick was called back into
military service, they moved to Nashville, Tennessee where Shirley freelanced
her illustrations. Upon Dick's discharge from the Air Force, they moved to
Greenwood where Dick entered the family business, V-K-T Agency, with Shirley's
father, Palmer Vinger, and her brother-in-law, William Kavanaugh. While raising
her two daughters in Greenwood, Shirley developed an interest in painting
portraits inspired by the faces of the neighborhood children and using her
garage as a studio. In 1974 she and Dick moved to Neillsville and Shirley began
a new career as a medical illustrator at the Marshfield Clinic, producing
hundreds of medical drawings a year for physicians, as well as slide
presentations for lectures and brochures used by the Clinic and their
physicians. Shirley described these years as the happiest and most fulfilling of
her life, continually learning and meeting the many people who would become her
lifelong friends. After her retirement in 2000, she devoted her time to
commission portraits of people and animals.
While Shirley embraced and enjoyed the final year of her life with her family in
Kansas City, she cherished all of her friends in the Marshfield area with whom
she enjoyed so many wonderful times and from so many of whom she received such
strength and support over the last few years.
Shirley's life was as vibrant and colorful as her artist's palette, and she
retained a beautiful spirit to the end. She enjoyed her travels around the
world, including trips to Czechoslovakia, Turkey, Greece, a river cruise down
the Rhine, and a trip to Thailand with her Niece, Kay and Daughter, Pat. She
especially loved the many winters she spent in her beloved Mexico with her
family and friends.
Shirley was predeceased by her husband, Dick, her sister, Vivian Kavanaugh,
brother-in-law, William Kavanaugh, and parents, Palmer and Lydia Vinger.
She is survived by her daughters, Pat Thompson, Nan (W. Michael) Shinkle,
Grandson, Michael Shinkle and Granddaughter, Allison (Cris) Crooks and their
children, Nathan and Lauren, Niece, Kay (Salim) Zarif, Nephew, James (Roberta)
Kavanaugh, Great-Nephew Nathan Kavanaugh, Great-Niece Megan (Philip) Marlatt and
their two children Cove and Lydia Marlatt.
A Celebration of Shirley's Life will be held at Christ Lutheran Church, 1208 W.
14th St., Marshfield, Wisconsin at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2019.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Marshfield Area Pet Shelter or
the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge-Marshfield, Wisconsin.
"EVERY CHILD IS AN ARTIST. THE PROBLEM IS HOW TO REMAIN AN ARTIST ONCE HE GROWS
UP."
-Picasso
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