Lois Thompson

Lois Ann Thompson, of Hilliard, Ohio, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2025, surrounded by family. She was born on August 21, 1953, in Chillicothe, Ohio, to Elsie and Howard Bethel, and spent most of her life in Hilliard, a community she loved and called home.

Lois was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, niece, cousin, and a dear friend to many. A proud graduate of Hilliard High School, Class of 1972, Lois began her long career at the J.C. Penney Distribution Center in Columbus in 1974, where she worked until her retirement in 2019. It was there that she formed many lifelong friendships, which she treasured deeply.

Lois loved life and lived it fully, especially when it came to music. She made it a point to see live music whenever she could, especially when “The Guys” were playing, and she could always be found singing along to the radio or dancing wherever she happened to be. Her quick wit, humor, and ability to make people laugh were hallmarks of her personality, and she loved sharing a good joke or story, especially over pizza with family and friends at Little Sicily’s.

She was a die-hard Ohio State football fan and a true Buckeye through and through. Lois lived for the Ohio State vs. Michigan rivalry and was never shy about letting everyone know who she was rooting for on game day.

Lois knew who she was and what she liked and was never ashamed of it. Her strong work ethic and devotion ensured that her family and friends were always taken care of, and her warmth and laughter will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Though Lois leaves a large hole in our hearts, we each have that one song that will always remind us of her, and we know she’ll be singing along with us.

Lois is survived by her children, Kristen Thompson (Amber Saba) and Elizabeth Thompson, and was preceded in death by her beloved son Michael Bowens (Meredith Bowens). She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren, Gage Saba and Stella Saba, Grayson Bowens, and Jaxson Burns; her nephew, Christopher Bethel (Dawn Bethel); and her brothers, Dale Bethel (Nancy Bethel) of Hilliard and Larry Pendleton (Cindy Pendleton). She is also survived by her lifelong friend and “sister,” Pam Burns of Columbus.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents, Elsie and Howard Bethel.

In the words of Kenny Loggins, we’re sure she’s singing right now, “I’m all right, nobody worry about me.”

A service to celebrate Lois’s life will be held on Sunday, July 20th, at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 5445 Scioto Darby Rd., Hilliard, OH 43026. A reception will follow at the church. During the service, there will be time for friends and family to share stories and memories of Lois. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Children’s Hospital, in Lois’ name.