RALEIGH — Linda Faye Kaplan-Thompson, 78, of Raleigh, passed peacefully in her home on Feb. 11 following complications from a stroke. She was surrounded by her entire immediate family.
Linda was preceded in death by her mother, Katharine Inez Kaplan of Rockingham, and father, Max Harry Kaplan of Albany, New York.
A beloved granddaughter, daughter, mother and grandmother, Linda is survived by her adoring husband of nearly 60 years, Albert E. Thompson Jr. of Raleigh; oldest son, Todd Thompson of Raleigh, wife Kay Porter-Thompson and grandson Porter Thompson; youngest son, Paul Thompson of Clayton, fiancée Elaine Posey and granddaughter Abigail Posey; and younger sisters, Leatrice Myers and husband John Myers of Albany, New York, and Bonnie Brauer and husband Evan Brauer of Rochester, New York.
Linda retired from state government having worked as an administrator in the claims department of Employment Security Commission and previously in the Governor’s Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities.
Known for her warmth, strength, humor and straightforwardness, Linda treasured family and loved a good practical joke. She was famous for beginning a tradition of gag gifting at the annual Singletary family Christmas party, and had no problem offering her middle finger whenever asked which finger to use when having her blood sugar checked.
While her tongue had the “more-than-occasional” sharpness, it was most often delivering love and support to her loved ones. She was proud to be a “second mom” to many of her sons’ friends and gladly watched over and protected younger cousins and family members.
Linda loved the beach and fishing, and looked forward to family beach vacations on the North Carolina coast. She enjoyed any time she could spend with those she loved at her second home in Oak Island.
Her smile beamed brightest, however, when she was in the company of her grandchildren. Despite her wariness of football, she cherished watching Porter excel on the gridiron, and was filled with pride seeing Abigail shine on the softball field.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, March 17 at The Cremation Society of the Carolinas, 2205 East Millbrook Road, Raleigh. Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. with the celebration to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org), or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (www.jdrf.org).
