Ann Barbara Epagh Thompson

Ann Barbara Epagh Thompson passed away April 3, 2016 in Little Rock. Ann Barbara was born in Seward, Neb., March 24, 1921 to Dr. Charles Porter and Bertha Carney Porter. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Thompson of Centerville, Ark., and her grandson Mark Link of Long Beach, Calif. She is survived by her three daughters, Ann Link, Jeanie Thompson and Holly Hope, all of Little Rock, Ark. She is also survived by two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Ann Barbara graduated from the Seward, NE, school system and attended Nebraska Weselyan University. She worked as an office manager at W.T. Grant's Department Store in Little Rock and later as an accountant at the Arkansas School for the Deaf until her retirement in 1987. A member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church since the early 1950s, she taught Sunday School kindergarten class at the church for over 20 years. Ann Barbara was also a member of the choir and frequently performed solos at services. The only girl in a family of four children she enjoyed accompanying her brothers to the woods on hunting trips. Ann Barbara was a Campfire Girl in Seward and later a Girl Scout leader in Little Rock. Her love of nature continued into adulthood. Ann Barbara could be found most days in her backyard garden of roses, snapdragons and cleomas sitting by the goldfish pond she constructed herself. She would frequently load the two youngest girls into the Rambler for trips to state parks and hiking. She particularly enjoyed traveling to the Cliff House Inn at Jasper, Ark., for Company's Coming pie and was a well-known guest of the restaurant. The day before she entered hospice, she joined the family at Mt. Magazine for lunch on her birthday. Never one to be lazy, Ann Barbara was known to sew clothes for the girls and their dolls, paint, re-roof the house, mow the lawn, hang wallpaper and build rock planters in the yard. She even climbed to the top of a tree to trim limbs. Ann Barbara's pets were treasured members of the family and included fish, turtles, birds, cats, dogs, squirrels and rabbits. A beautiful singer, she would show up the girls on renditions of "Shuffle Off to Buffalo," and various Christmas carols played on the family piano. Ann Barbara had a favorite walking stick she used on hikes and later at home. The sound of the stick on the floor and her call of "hoo-hoo" would greet every visitor who would also be reminded to come back, anytime. She would remain at the door waving until her guests had driven away. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Forest Hills Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday at Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth, 5800 W. 12th St., Little Rock (501) 661-9111. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Little Rock Animal Village and/or Arkansas Hospice, St. Vincent's Hospital, Little Rock, Ark. To sign the online guestbook, go to www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.