Shirley W.Thompson, 72, of Wallingford, departed this life on Sunday, January 27, 2008, at the Masonic Health Care Center in Wallingford. She was the beloved wife of Samuel R. Thompson, who she met as a boy in second grade and fell in love with in the fourth grade. Together they created wonderful memories that will always be theirs. Shirley was born on September 7, 1935, in New Haven, CT, a daughter of the late John T. and Edith (Samson) Wardle, Sr. For over 25 years Shirley worked in the insurance industry. She had been employed with the Home Insurance and Peerless Insurance Companies. She and her husband were very well traveled and enjoyed vacationing around the globe. Growing up at the beach gave her a great love of the water. This love was shared with her family during beach vacations. She was the glue that held her family together. In addition to her husband, she will be sadly missed by her children, Russell T. Thompson and Debra T. Ripa and her husband Guy, all of Wallingford; two grandchildren, Nicholas A. Ripa of Wallingford and Jessica E. Thompson of Proctorsville, Vermont; a brother, Robert (Bucky) Wardle of East Haven; her mother-in-law, Martha T. Campbell of Wallingford; her sister-in-law Jackie Wardle of Maine; and her longtime friend, Carol Corey of Rocky Hill. She also leaves many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her sibblings: John T. Wardle, Jr., Edith Lacey Wilson, Thomas E. Wardle, and Mary Ann Eaton. Relatives and friends may call on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at B.C. Bailey Funeral Home, 273 South Elm Street, Wallingford from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 10:00 AM at the funeral home with the Rev. Dean Warburton of the First Congregational Church officiating. Interment will follow at the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown. Memorial contributions may be directed to Masonic Charity Foundation, P.O. Box 70, Wallingford, CT 06492.