Beth Ann Thompson

Beth Ann Thompson, formerly of West Hartford CT, passed away in Redding California on August 8 from complications of ovarian cancer. She was 72 and the daughter of the late Katherine DeLong Thompson of West Hartford and late Richard Thompson of Auburn Maine. A graduate of Conard High School, Beth attended the University of Connecticut and graduated from Plymouth State University with a BS in Education. A career in Public Health began in Randolph NH where she worked for the Family Planning Program and Family Health as a health educator. Escaping the cold NH winters, Beth moved to Key West and then Sugarloaf Key FL as an elementary school teacher followed by moves to Austin Texas, Portland Oregon, and finally Redding as a Supervising Community Education Specialist for the Tobacco Control Division of Shasta County Public Health Services, a position she held until retiring in 2012. Following retirement she worked on Public Health projects and as a volunteer reading aide at a local elementary school. Co-workers credit her with being instrumental in establishing most of Shasta County's tobacco control regulations including those for smoke-free beaches and trails. Beth was a member of the Tobacco Education Coalition, the Euphrates Institute, and the local Peace Initiative, and was an avid cat lover who spayed and neutered local abandon cats finding them homes throughout Redding. A lover of the outdoors, she hiked, skied, and camped making many long trips in her van "Puff" staying in Walmart parking lots as she visited her many friends across the country.

Beth Ann is survived by a sister, Wendy Noyes of Baltimore MD, brother Richard Thompson of San Francisco, brother Douglas Thompson of Jacuma Brazil, niece Christy Kreisa and nephew Tim Britton of Los Angeles, niece Sophia Thompson of San Francisco, and nieces Kelinda and Denali Thompson of Jacuma Brazil.

A memorial service will be held in Redding at a later date. Donations can be made in her name to Another Chance Animal Welfare League, PO Box 494274, Redding CA 96049, a place she supported.