DATE: Wednesday, July 30, 1997              TAG: 9707300434

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   31 lines

ADELENA W. THOMPSON

Adelena Perry Wellons Thompson, 98, died Monday, July 28, 1997, at Beth Sholom Home following recent illness.

The widow of Earl Sims Thompson and the mother of her deceased eldest daughter, Susan Thompson, she is survived by two daughters, Shirley Thompson of Baltimore and Patti Thompson Buechner of Syracuse, N.Y.; son-in-law, Stephen Buechner; grandson, Karl Buechner, granddaughter, June Buechner and great-grandson, Charles Earl Buechner; daughter of Emma Susan and William Bailey Wellons, Lena was born in Norfolk Sept. 12, 1898. In 1916 she graduated from Maury High School then attended Lynchburg College where she studied classical piano. Music always played an important part in her life. For seven years she was employed at the Seaboard Airline Railroad in Portsmouth. When Lena and Earl were married June 27, 1925, theirs was the first wedding in the Sanctuary of the First Christian Church (Disciples) where she was an active church member, Sunday School teacher and pianist. She was a devoted homemaker for her beloved husband and three daughters. When daughters Shirley and Patti pursued professional operatic careers, Lena participated in their success by traveling to attend their performances. She also lived with them in Italy and Germany while they were performing in Europe. Although she loved her own home in Norfolk, she visited frequently with her daughters throughout her life and she was an important part of their lives.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Tidewater Drive Chapel, where a funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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