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Lorena Bell Tompkins

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TOMPKINS, Lorena Bell
July 25, 1923 – July 5, 2011
A Costa Mesa resident for more than 30 years, Lorena Bell Tompkins, beloved wife, mom and Grammie, passed away peacefully on July 5th at Mount Miguel Covenant Village, Spring Valley CA, at the age of 87. She was preceded in death by her devoted and loving husband Don (Rexford Donald Tompkins) on April 24, 2001.
Born in 1923, on a farm in Missouri, she was the second of three siblings (Juanita and Adaline). At an early age, the Bell family moved to the Peoria area of Illinois. Lorena attended North Central College (Naperville IL), where she met her future husband, Don, in 1942, whom she married in 1946 after his return from WWII. The family grew with the addition of four sons (Rex, Jim, Ted and Pat) while living in the Chicago area. In 1962 the Tompkins’ family moved to Costa Mesa CA.
After the boys had grown, Lorena resumed her teaching career, initially as a substitute teacher and then as a full time teacher with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District (Rea and TeWinkle schools). In addition to teaching, she actively supported her children’s and grand-children’s activities.
Lorena and Don were actively involved with the Crystal Cathedral for many years, where she was a Governing Board Member for the Crystal Cathedral Women’s Ministries.
Upon retirement, Lorena and Don moved to Mount Miguel Covenant Village, Spring Valley CA in 1995.
Survived and remembered with great affection and love by her sons Rex (Patricia), Jim (Ellen), Ted (Verna) and Pat (Debbie); grandchildren Blake, Bret, Bryn, Clint (Janette), Dan (Holly), Dean (Cindy), Krista (Dwayne), Matt, Mike and Sarah; great-grandchildren Samantha, Sophia, Victoria, Sydney, William, Rex and Kaitlyn; as well as her many friends and former students.
The peace and tranquility of the family bungalow in Langley WA (on Whidbey Island) called out to Lorena and family every summer, as it does again this summer - their final trip to the bungalow to scatter their ashes in Puget Sound.
Memorial service to be held Saturday, August 6, 2011, 3:00pm at the First Baptist Church of La Crescenta, 4441 La Crescenta Avenue, La Crescenta, CA 91214 (818) 249-5832. Immediately following the service, join the family to reminisce at the home of Ted and Verna Tompkins, 2701 Mayfield Avenue, La Crescenta, CA 91214 (818) 249-3260.

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