Obituary: Thompson, Patricia Ann “Pat”
Age 92
THOMPSON, Patricia Ann “Pat”
August 15, 1923-
May 4, 2016
Pat passed peacefully after a brief illness; she was surrounded by her daughters, beloved dog Bella and her wonderful care givers.
Pat was born at Sacred Heart Hospital to Charles G. Sandholm and Hazel A. Parker.
As a child she spent her summers at Liberty Lake; Pat loved to swim and ice skate.
She graduated from Lewis & Clark High School in 1941.
Pat then attended Washington State College, where she met and married Gerald E. Thompson ‘Jerry’.
In 1944, when Pat was working at Old National Bank in Spokane, she decided to enlist in the Marines.
After discharge from military service Pat attended art school in New York, where she met and married Wilbur H. Ludwig ‘Whip’.
The couple moved back to Spokane and then to San Mateo, CA where Whip worked for United Airlines.
Pat returned to Spokane in 1964 and remarried Jerry Thompson, who was a pharmacist and owned Thompson’s Drug Store on 3rd Ave. She opened a fabric store, Pat’s Fabrics in the back of the pharmacy.
When Jerry changed careers to real estate appraising, she went to work for Fashion Fabrics and became a district manager.
At the age of 50, Pat decided to go back to school once more and earned an art degree from Fort Wright College.
Among her fondest memories were the numerous trips to Europe with Sister Paula Turnbull and her friend Donna Kulibert, visiting galleries, cathedrals, and many historic sites.
Pat’s interests included several art mediums: sketching, painting, photography, and beading.
She taught jewelry design at the Spokane Art School.
Pat was also an expert seamstress, quilter, cloth doll and teddy bear maker.
During their lives together, Jerry and Pat spent many summers fishing at Lake Pend Oreille and winters skiing with their girls as they were growing up.
Their later years were spent traveling in the southwest, Mexico and included several trips to Russia.
When Jerry retired from real estate appraising, he and Pat relocated to Pahrump, Nevada; where Jerry passed on August 1, 2004, one day after his 83rd birthday.
Pat then moved back to Spokane to be near her daughters.
She loved to go out for lunch and play Bingo.
Pat lived life to the fullest, pursuing her passions and artistic endeavors.
Pat is survived by her daughters: Pam Ludwig-Chapman (Tom), Paula Ludwig-Calkins (Steve Mason); and granddaughter Stacey Calkins-Quimby (Gary).
Pat’s daughters would especially like to thank Dr. Gretchen LaSalle, Susan Baran ARNP, Bernice Mescale, and all of her fabulous care givers for the wonderful care they provided.
At Pat’s request there will be no funeral service.
Donations may be made in her memory to Hospice of Spokane.