Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and faithful follower of Jesus Christ
Ellen Melinda Mensinger Thompson
November 30, 1944 – December 7, 2022
Lived 78 years
East Lawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park · Kingsport, TN
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:1-3).
Life story
Ellen was known as “Gammy,” not only to her grandchildren, but to the many people who loved her and were the recipients of her “Gammy Blankets,” “epistle-length birthday cards,” treat bags with “spendulix,” as well as her home-cooked meals and hospitality. She was a lover of God’s creation and a science teacher at heart, hosting “Creation Appreciation” seminars for her grandchildren whenever they visited during the holidays.
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The world Ellen knew
Family milestones in gold, history for context
1944
Born November 30
1945
Ellen was 1 when World War II ended
1958
Ellen was 14 when the Hula Hoop craze swept the country
1969
Ellen was 25 when "Sesame Street" debuted
1971
Ellen was 27 when Walt Disney World opened in Florida
1981
Ellen was 37 when MTV began broadcasting
1995
Ellen was 51 when "Toy Story" became the first fully computer-animated film
2004
Ellen was 60 when Facebook was launched
2010
Ellen was 66 when Apple's iPad went on sale
2021
Ellen was 77 when the James Webb Space Telescope was launched
2022
Passed away December 7, age 78
Family and friends
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