Dorothy "Dotty" Holsten Thompson

Dorothy Holsten Thompson of Charleston, South Carolina passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024 surrounded by her loving family at the age of 90. Just a few hours before her passing, she and her music teacher were singing Edelweiss from the score of The Sound of Music. Now Dotty is singing in the Lord's heavenly choir with her beautiful soprano voice.

Dotty was born in Rockville Center, New York to Anna and Elbert A. Holsten on December 28, 1933. She attended Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois. While in college she met her soon-to-be-husband, Kenneth Irving Thompson, Jr., whose family coincidentally lived next door to her family in Winnetka, Illinois. They were married in Richmond, Virginia on February 1, 1958, during Ken's service as a lieutenant in the US Navy.

After serving in the Navy, Ken began a long and successful career, one which allowed Dotty and Ken to forge many special friendships over six decades. They were fortunate to spend many years building these friendships through times spent traveling on various business trips. Ken's career often required relocating their family, so Dotty packed up and moved her family over a dozen times. Each time they moved she created a beautiful, inviting home with lovely interiors and gardens to make each home more special than the last.

Singing was one of Dotty's greatest gifts and she always found a home in a church choir each time her family moved to a new community. She was often recognized and appreciated for her exceptional talent. Not only was Dotty a talented vocalist, but she was also skilled in cooking, knitting, sewing, quilting, and needlepoint. She was thrilled to pass those talents, along with how to garden, play tennis or golf, to her children and grandchildren with patience and pleasure. Dotty loved relaxing around the dinner table with family after preparing a meal, simply catching up on the day and everyone's activities. Her meal was never complete without her nightly bowl of chocolate ice cream. She adored shopping, particularly for clothes, and always presented a lovely sense of style.

Affectionately known as Dotty, Mom, or Dee, she cherished being a wife, a mother of four, a grandmother of eight and a great-grandmother of five. She spent countless hours watching and cheering on her children and grandchildren as they participated in sports, cheered on a team or performed at various recitals. Her happiest moments in life were raising her family and being surrounded by her husband, her children, their spouses and her grandchildren wherever and whenever possible. Dotty and Ken shared over 66 years of marriage.

Dotty had a deep and abiding faith and knew that her hope was secure in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dotty was predeceased by her parents, older sister, Ruth Holsten Nitz, and her younger brother, Robert A. Holsten, all of Richmond, Virginia. In addition, she was predeceased by her son-in-law, Arthur H. Applegate (Charleston, SC).

She is survived by her husband Kenneth (Ken) Thompson, Jr., four children; Lynne Thompson Willets married to Jefferson Willets (Lincoln, NH), Cynthia Thompson Applegate (Charleston, SC), Todd George Thompson married to Leigh Triplett Thompson (St. Simons Island, GA) and Terri Thompson Gouldman married to Dr. John Wesley Gouldman (Dunwoody, GA); Eight grandchildren; Michael Burris married to Brooke Mosteller Burris (Mt. Pleasant, SC), Jefferson Willets, Jr. married to Elizabeth Walker Willets (Arlington, VA), Austin Burris (Charleston, SC), Henry Willets (Boston, MA), Frances Thompson Hope married to Robert Hope (St. Simons Island, GA), Davis Thompson married to Holly Grace Robinson Thompson (St. Simons Island, GA), Katherine Gouldman (Dunwoody, GA), Elizabeth Gouldman (Mt. Pleasant, SC) along with five great-grandchildren, her sister-in-law, Deedle Holsten (Richmond, VA) and several nieces and nephews in/around Richmond, VA.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, September 9, 2024, 11:00 am at St. Philip's Church, 142 Church Street, Charleston, SC. A private family burial will immediately follow the service. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mt. Pleasant Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Philip's Church, 142 Church Street, Charleston, SC 29401 or The Davis Love Foundation, by visiting www.rsmclassic.com and clicking the donate button.

A memorial message may be sent to the family on our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.