Clemmons, NC Mrs. Alice Thompson Umhau, of Sweetwater Court, passed away at her home on Wednesday, February 20, 2008. Mrs. Umhau was born December 12, 1921 in Surry County to Benjamin & Emma Cockerham Thompson. Mrs. Umhau graduated from Mountain Park High School in 1938 and attended Richmond Business College and Strayer University of Maryland; School of Secretaries and Pan American Business College in Washington, DC. She was a lifetime member of Eastern Star Chapter 48 for 50 years and was a member of the Ritual of the Ladies Oriental Shrine in Washington where she traveled worldwide with the Shriners. She retired from the United States Patent office in Washington D.C as an Executive Director for the Board of Appeals in 1975. Mrs. Umhau was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC and was a former member of the First Baptist Church of Washington, DC and St. Paul Episcopal Church in Maryland, she was an avid reader of the Bible reading the old testament once each year and the new testament twice each year. Alice was a resident of Heritage Woods Retirement Center in Winston-Salem, NC from 1995-2007 where she was on the greeting committee and volunteered at the gift shop. She loved spending time at her vacation home in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland and loved her companion, her poodle, "Rumsey". She married Walter C. Umhau in 1941 and he preceded her in death. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Ralph Thompson, Ruth Wingfield, Ray Thompson, Tommy Thompson, Mary Thompson Spainhour and Hort Thompson. Survivors include: nieces, Betty Spainhour of the home, Doris Wagoner and husband Harold of Hamptonville, Peggy Wingfield, Linda Wingfield and Joyce Fairlamb of Virginia, Debbie Doerr, Paige Thompson both of New York, Brenda Thompson of Asheville; nephews, David Wingfield and wife Carol of Apex, Joe Spainhour and wife Myra of Harrisburg, Bill Spainhour and wife Kay of Pensacola, Fla., Ralph Spainhour of Virginia; Johnny Thompson and wife Elaine of Robbinsville, Doughton Thompson and wife Pat, Freddie Lee Thompson and Charles Thompson all of Elkin; Chris Thompson and wife Brenda of Jonesville; a sister-in-law Melba Thompson Bari of Pennsylvania, Naomi Thompson of Jonesville; many loving great nieces and nephews and their families. Funeral services will be held Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Mountain Park Baptist Church by Rev. Ken Bradstock. Burial will follow at Mountain Park Cemetery with Masonic Rites. The family will receive friends Saturday from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin. The family will accept flowers or memorials may be made to Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home and Hospice & Palliative Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 or to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607-1460 Beth and Betty would like to thank everyone who served a part in the last year with Aunt Alice during her recovering in the hospital and her illness while at home. All the CNA's with different agencies and the staff with Hospice of Winston-Salem. A special thank you goes to Tabitha Carney "Katie". Online condolences may be made at www.hodgesfuneralhomeinc.com Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin is serving the Umhau family.
