Esther Davies Thompson, 94, of Fort Myers, Fla., passed away Tuesday.

She was born May 27, 1914, in Erie County, to Gara and Elizabeth Davies.

She graduated from Edinboro State College in 1935. She moved to Allentown in 1938 to teach at Good Shepherd Home. Esther returned to Erie in 1944 and worked for the Home Services Department of the Red Cross serving the families of military personnel during World War II.

From 1945 to 1948, she worked as the extension secretary for the Pennsylvania Christian Endeaver Union in Feasterville, Pa., where she had contact with an up-and-coming young officer of Christian Endeaver, James M. Thompson. She then returned to work at the Good Shepherd Home, but kept close ties to Christian Endeavor as editor of the monthly publication, "Youth Today."

In 1952, she married the president-elect of Pennsylvania Christian Endeavor, that same James M. Thompson, at Belle Valley Presbyterian Church in Belle Valley, Pa. They lived in Prospect and New Castle. At varying times they were members of the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Butler, the Presbyterian Church in Prospect and the First Presbyterian Church in New Castle.

From 1962 to 1969, she was a teacher and then program director of the Lark Workshop for the Handicapped in New Castle. She then worked briefly for the Bair Foundation in New Wilmington, retiring in 1970.

Upon her husband's retirement in 1979, they moved to Winter Springs, Fla. Esther remained in Winter Springs for several years following her husband's passing, then moved to North Fort Myers, Fla., to be near her grandchildren.

She was a member of the Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church in North Fort Myers, Fla., and was active in The Button Club and The Angel Club of Southwest Florida.

She is survived by a brother, Herbert Davies (Grace) of Erie; a daughter, Elizabeth Kizaki (Yasu) of Denver; a son, James Gara Thompson (Gayla) of Cape Coral, Fla.; grandchildren, Jacob of Orlando, Fla., Jenna of Tampa, Fla., and Glenn and Grant of Cape Coral, Fla.; nephews, James, Gary (Christine) and Charles Davies (Andrea); and great-nephews and great-nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, James; and her sister, Marion Davies Chapman.

<B>THOMPSON</B> — Friends of Esther Davies Thompson, who died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008, are invited to a reception in celebration of Esther's life from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Presbyterian Church of Prospect at the corner of Route 528, North Franklin Street, and Church Street in the new fellowship hall.Arrangements are being handled by the <B>DUSCKAS FUNERAL HOME, EAST</B>, 2607 Buffalo Road, Erie.To send condolences, visit www.dusckasfuneralhome.com.