Elmer Ora Thompson Bass, 95, went home to heaven to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 13, 2016. She was born on November 1, 1921 in Endicott, Virginia, to a family of 12, where she was the youngest. She lived in Franklin County and Roanoke County, where she attended school until the end of 6th grade. From there she went to work at Roanoke Mills and later at Maid Best until she married her husband, Eugene Robert Bass. From there she started her journeys. Elmer traveled to Spain, Taiwan, Iran, Greece, and Germany. She also lived in Wisconsin, Washington state, Kentucky, and North Carolina. When her husband retired from the military they settled in Manassas, Virginia, where they lived until retiring. During her time in Manassas, she was employed in Security at IBM. Upon their retirement, they came home to Salem to live. After settling in Salem, Elmer was the church hostess at Bethel Baptist Church for 20 plus years, where she was known as "Sarge“. Elmer attended Shirley Horn’s Sunday School class for many years. She enjoyed bowling and crocheting.
She was predeceased by her parents, Ned and Frances Atkins Thompson; siblings, Grady Thompson, Lathen Thompson, Tanney Thompson, Bill Thompson, Dalton Thompson, Hattie Peebles, Gladys Thompson, Pearlie Thompson, Dora Craft, Grace Kelly, and Beulah Caldwell; and her husband, Eugene Robert Bass. Surviving are her sons, Donald Wayne Bass and Sarah Bass, and Eugene Robert Bass, Jr. and Vickie Bass; two grandchildren, Amber and Juston; and four great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, November 17, 2016 from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm at John M. Oakey and Son Funeral Home in Salem. Funeral services will be held at 10 am on Friday, November 18, 2016 at Bethel Baptist Church in Salem. Burial will immediately follow at Evergreen Burial Park in Roanoke. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society (P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123) and Bethel Baptist Church (1601 S. Colorado Street, Salem, Virginia 24153).Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com. Arrangements by John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem, 540-389-5441.