Vern Talman Thompson m. Dorothy Jane Hatch 1934
Both my father Vern Talman Thompson, and his older brother Glen Thompson, grew up to be licensed in Pharmaceutical Drugs, with our dad graduating from the University of Washington, in Seattle where he met our mother Dorothy Jane Hatch in a chemistry class. He worked after school at a gas station, and his mother would come with his books to help him with his studies. (She was a good mama)!
The story I wish to tell is how Sarah Elizabeth Talman Thompson played a significant role in her sons becoming successful. I think she had “big dreams” for her boy’s lives. As little boys, she would teach them French and reward them with cups of hot chocolate, she would serve from small Demitasse cups she probably had as a girl. I have two of them in my China cabinet today. Our father could sit at our dining table and entertain us after our meal, with poetry. He also learned this sitting as a youngster at her knee. Some of our favorites he recited, were Robert Service poems; “The Cremation of Sam McGee”, and “The Shooting of Dan McGrew”. Listening to those poems would make the hair on your arms stand up straight.
Vern and Glen’s Pharmacy didn’t survive the years of Depression, and our dad would work nights at a service station trying to keep the Drug Store in the Wallingford District of Seattle going. Glen continued to be a pharmacist throughout his life, whereas our father enjoyed working with his hands, and loved cars. He bought a Chevron Station, and later added a mechanic shop to it. That was how he supported our family.
We lived on Queen Anne Hill, at 2556 2nd, Avenue West, in Seattle, Washington, in a lovely Tudor style home. We attended and were members of the Queen Anne United Methodist Church. Our Christian faith has always been an important part of our lives.
Our folks also had a wonderful summer home on Pipe Lake, in Maple Valley, Washington, where we would enjoy many a sunny day swimming. Maple Valley is not far from Black Diamond, where Ira Charles and Sarah Elizabeth, or “Libby” as she was known to be called, would raise their boys.
Vern Talman Thompson was one of thirteen teenagers graduating from Buckley high school and was the Valedictorian speaker of his graduating class of 1927.
written account, by Judy R Wedeberg
daughter of Vern and Dorothy Thompson, granddaughter of Sarah Elizabeth Talman Thompson
~ August 2nd, 2021
Nice story. Jon Tallman is my brother.
What a neat story. I was always wondering where the name ‘Augusta’ came from in my family line. My G Grandmother was Ida Augusta Haight. Her Grandmother was Emily Augusta Tallman so that answered my curiosity. I have her Bible, pictures, believe it or not, hidden somewhere in my bunk house. She passed away in 1855.