Arena S. Thompson, age 83, Inverness, FL passed away September 16, 2023 at the HPH Hospice Care Center in Lecanto.
Arena was born in Ocala, FL on September 10, 1940 to the late A.W. Strickland and Leone Williams Strickland. She moved to Inverness in 1958 with her family and completed her senior year at Citrus High School, graduating in May of 1959. On June 14, 1959 she married George D. Thompson at First Baptist Church. In August of 1960 their first child was born, a daughter named Renee. They moved to Ocala FL for George’s job with Florida Power, then later to Fellowship, FL where their second child was born, another daughter named Melissa. They moved back to Inverness in 1971 from Waverly, FL.
Arena was a 15 year employee of Citrus Memorial Hospital in the Medical Records Department but her greatest achievement was being a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. A note of interest, George, Arena, Renee and Melissa all graduated from Citrus High School. GO ‘CANES!!!!
Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 64 years, George and her two daughters: Renee Carlson and her husband Greg of Huntsville, AL along with Melissa Miller and husband Barry who recently retired and moved to Inverness. There are 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren in addition to several nieces and nephews. Arena was from a large and loving family of 9 children. She and sister Norine Gilstrap were the last two Strickland children left until this past Saturday, September 16, when amazingly both she and Norine passed away a little over an hour apart.
There is a Celebration of Life scheduled for Friday, September 22, 2023 at 2:00 PM at the Connection Church of God. Private entombment will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery Mausoleum. Friends may visit with the family at the church from 1:00 PM until the hour of service. Arrangements under the direction of Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home With Crematory, Inverness, FL.
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