Janet Fairbank Thompson

August 30, 1923 – March 22, 2013

      Janet Fairbank Thompson, age 89, the beloved mother of Bruce Thompson of San Jose, California and Scott Thompson of Bear Lake, Michigan, died unexpectedly Friday morning, March 22, 2013 from complications after surgery at Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton. Cremation will be under the direction of Linde Price Funeral Service, and a private memorial will be held in Seattle. 

      Janet was born August 30th, 1923 in Lewistown, Montana, the youngest of 5 children born to Samuel B. Fairbank and his wife Helen L. Martin, wealthy flour mill owners and prominent members of the Hobson, Montana community. The crash of 1929 forced the family into bankruptcy and they relocated to Seattle’s Laurelhurst neighborhood when Janet was about 8 years old.

      She blossomed into a strikingly beautiful and well-cultured young woman with an infectious laugh and a great sense of humor. She often joked about how incorrigible she was as a young girl while following in the footsteps of her older siblings, attending Laurelhurst Grade School, graduating from Roosevelt High School and attending Whitman College.

      At Whitman she was a member of Delta Delta Delta Fraternity and was active in many social circles. She established countless treasured friendships, lasting memories and nurtured her naturally curious mind. One day while working for her tuition in the Whitman kitchen, she caught the eye of a handsome athlete named Reg Thompson. He pursued, and after courtship they married on December 18, 1944 in the living room of Janet’s parents’ Laurelhurst home. They honeymooned briefly in Hawaii, a good start to what would become a spirited 60-year marriage.

      Her time at Whitman was cut short when Reg was called into service for World War II, they relocated to the east coast briefly for Reg’s Naval training. In 1945, Reg was deployed to the South Pacific on the USS Tulagi aircraft carrier so Janet returned to Seattle to her parent’s home and worked for a time at the University of Washington Book Store. Following the War, they returned to the Tri-Cities area to be near Whitman so Reg could complete his degree. Janet worked at Baker Boyer Bank in Kennewick for a Whitman grad named Bill Harris, who commented later that Janet was the most competent person who had ever worked for him. She was a burgeoning administrative professional who would continue to be known throughout her life as a sharp-witted, organized and focused individual.

      After Reg and Janet had begun their family, they relocated to the Bay Area in California where they remained for many years. Janet went to right back to work in California for a local bank, in addition to being a mother and homemaker raising her three young boys, Scott, Steve and Bruce. Once the boys were old enough for Janet to return to full-time work she landed a professional job as Office Manager of Los Altos High School, where she thrived and eventually retired.

      Throughout her later years she remained sharp and healthy, and she cherished her time with her boys, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren … whether in person during holidays and local events, or from afar. She also enjoyed some retirement travel. A highlight was a dream adventure for three months on the water of Alaska’s inside passage with Reg, sister Elizabeth and brother-in-law Jack Harding on Jack’s private boat, the M/V Astarte. Some other travel highlights included a tour of Turkey guided by close friends Anna and Bill Edmonds, frequent returns to Whitman for annual reunions, and a trip to Italy’s wine country with Jack and her niece, Janet.

      Following Reg’s death in 2005, she accepted an invitation from her long-time friend and recently widowed brother-in-law Jack, who invited her to live with him in his gorgeous Bainbridge Island home overlooking the Puget Sound. She was enthusiastically welcomed, and found close friendship, like-mindedness, love and general merriment in his home for seven wonderful years.

      Janet is remembered as an extremely generous, cheerful and passionate woman who cared deeply about her family and friends. She is mourned and will be greatly missed.

      She was preceded in death by her husband Reginald G. Thompson; her four older siblings, William M. Fairbank, Elizabeth F. Harding, Henry A. Fairbank, and Ruth F. Roberts; and her son Stephen R. Thompson. She is survived by her two sons R. Scott Thompson and Bruce W. Thompson, eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and her loving friend and companion John “Jack” W. Harding and his family.

      Donations in her name and remembrances may be made through the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, Whitman College, or the Macular Degeneration Foundation.

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