Mildred Thompson

Mildred Thompson Musician, environmentalist, peace activist, and ardent and active member of the Eugene Friends Meeting, Mildred (Milena) Althea Thompson passed away February 3, 2017 at Avamere Rehabilitation of Eugene. A longtime resident of Eugene, Milena played in the Eugene Symphony Orchestra and taught violin and viola to many area students. She was married for more than 10 years to Stanley Thompson, a peace and anti-nuclear activist, until his passing in 2005. Born and raised in Southern California, Milena was a graduate of UCLA. She married Albert Jones in the spring of 1942, and they settled in California’s San Fernando Valley. In April 1943, Albert, a conscientious objector during World War II, was assigned to the Civilian Public Service (CPS) camp in Coleville, California, to work for the Forest Reserve. It was there that the couple became familiar with Quakers and the silent meeting tradition. Milena began teaching elementary school, although her heart was in her music. While Albert was in the camp, Milena expressed her opposition to bloodshed by refusing to sell war bonds to her students, as was expected of teachers at the time. Eventually she came to live with Albert in the camp; by April 1946, they had both become Quakers. After the war, Albert went to work with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and the couple moved to Media, Pennsylvania. Millie stayed with a Quaker family there while Albert crewed on an AFSC-sponsored relief ship carrying cattle to war-torn Poland. They returned to the Los Angeles area in 1950 with sons Jeffrey and Eric and joined the new San Fernando Valley Friends Meeting, founded by fellow CPS camp veterans. There, the family welcomed daughter Julie. Milena became a professional violist and teacher, playing with the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra and, later, after moving to Oregon, the Eugene Symphony. Milena loved her family, her music and her world. She lived lightly on the earth, sharing her spirit and light with many in her community. She is remembered for her beauty and gentle ways. Her family is profoundly grateful to the members of the Eugene Friends Meeting who visited with her and remained friends during her years of hospitalization. Her family wishes to thank and commend the staff at Avamere Rehabilitation for their care and love of Milena during her nearly eight years at the facility. Milena is survived by her three children; Jeff Jones, Eric Jones, and Julie Keechler; six grandchildren, Thai Jones, Arthur Stein-Jones, Justin Jones, Amanda Gilchrist, Jacob Nelson and Jesse Nelson; and five great-grandchildren, Seneca Jones, Carolina Jones, Fenella Gilchrist, and Hannah and Matthew Nelson. She loved and is also survived by members of the Thompson family, including Michael and Barbara, their daughters Megan and Caitlin, niece Laura and granddaughter Julia. A Quaker memorial will be announced at a future date. Donations in her memory are welcome to the Eugene Friends Meeting, 2274 Onyx St., Eugene, OR 97403. Arrangements entrusted to England’s Eugene Memorial Chapel. Please access the obituary and you are invited to sign the guestbook at musgroves.com