Angela "Annie" Thompson

Angela “Annie” Neely Rice Thompson passed peacefully in her sleep on October 6, 2025. Annie died, at 90 years old, from complications of end stage Alzheimer’s dementia, surrounded by the love of family and friends over the days leading up to her departure.

Annie was born on April 16, 1935, in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia to the late Ruth (Breig) Neely and Theodore Vincent Neely. The couple had three sons at home, Theodore Vincent, Bernard, and Joseph and were delighted to add a baby girl to their family.

On her family’s farm, Annie was fortunate to be embraced by her extended family who shared a deep faith that was a sustaining force throughout her lifetime. She shared wonderful memories of a simpler life, playing with cousins, walking up to her grandmother’s home, enjoying music together, and raising many animals including her spitz collies and pet opossums.

Growing up during the depression years, the farm provided well for her family and allowed them to share with those in need in the community. She carried this generous nature with her over the course of her lifetime. She enjoyed growing up in a small town and being active in her church community, which included singing in the choir. As she approached high school, her aunt, a Nun and educator, encouraged her to attend St Joseph’s Academy, an all-girls school in McSherrystown. Her high school years helped further develop her musical talents and prepared her to be an executive assistant. It was during this time away from home that she met her first love, Tom Rice, who was attending the neighboring St Francis Preparatory School for boys. The two schools would host dances which led to their meeting and eventual union shortly after their graduations.

Annie graduated ahead of Tom and embraced an opportunity to move to Washington D.C. and work as an executive assistant. It was fun to live independently in the city, sharing an apartment with her friends. She had a beautiful soprano voice and was frequently asked to perform solos at weddings in the local cathedrals.

After Tom’s graduation, they married and began their careers and family in Southern Maryland. In 1965, they had an opportunity to purchase a small AM radio station in Scranton, WSCR. They seized the opportunity and moved their young family to Clarks Summit. They were active in their community as their business and family grew. Annie was a busy Mom with three sons and a daughter and did her best to balance her time between work and family needs. She genuinely enjoyed raising her children and always welcomed their friends into their home. She became the adopted “Mom” of many local kids of the Abingtons and beyond, with the inclusion of exchange students from Japan, Sweden, and Denmark.

Annie had many talents and loved fashion. Through the radio station, she became an exceptional commentator for local fashion and bridal shows. Her expert commentary and fashion sense helped her put together several successful shows over the years. She was also a vital part of the station’s hospitality programing which included Yankee Caravans and September Sojourns. On the Caravans, she coordinated taking busloads of fans to see Yankee games in New York City during the baseball season with boxed lunches and snacks to enjoy. On September Sojourns, she put together guided tours all over Europe for 10 to 14 days that accommodated up to 100 guests. These became an annual tradition for many in the area. She adored traveling and learning about history and different cultures.

Unfortunately, Annie faced many personal challenges over the years with the end of her first marriage and the devastating loss of her second son, Charlie, who died in a tragic car accident in 1977 at just 19 years of age. These losses impacted her, but she never gave up and pivoted to working in the travel business to support her home and family.

Raising her young family in the area, Annie had a community of friends which led her to her second love, Warren Thompson. As their relationship grew, Annie was intrigued to return to life on a farm and welcomed a whole new family with this union. They had 29 years together filled with good times and challenges on the farm. She always worked hard toward the success of the farm but when that business ended, she again pivoted, creating Annie’s Country Kitchen, a line of gourmet products including salsas, chili sauce, pickles, and preserves, which she sold at multiple local grocery stores. At the height of her canning, she produced 30,000 jars of product from her home’s country kitchen in 1 year with the help of her family, which was a memorable milestone. After Warren passed in 2009, Annie continued the business with her family until she experienced a stroke in 2013, which precipitated her dementia and other health issues.

Annie is survived by her children, Tom Rice Jr., Bernard J. Rice, Agnes Rice Sawyer and husband Judson, Lise Davis Rice, Brian Thompson, Denise DePhillips; her grandchildren, Natalia Burgess and husband Jeremy, Charlie Rice and partner Kat, Michael Bushko, Benjamin Rice and partner Brittany, Samuel Rice, Claire Sawyer Shaffer and her husband Paul, Gwendelyn Sawyer and her partner Nick, Justin DePhillips and his wife Kristy, Spencer DePhillips and his wife Caroline; her great grandchildren, Lily, Angela, Alaina, Clover, Seamus, Brooks, Camille, Sutton, and Celine; extended family; and friends.

Through it all Annie remained loving, caring, and giving. She was always a hostess, offering refreshments to her hospice healthcare workers when they came for visits. We are grateful to her wonderful care team at Compassionate Home Health and Hospice here in Clarks Summit and Hospice of Southern Maine during her time up there.

In Lieu of flowers the family suggests donating to your local food banks to help those in need during these challenging times.

The funeral will be on Tuesday, October 14th, at 10 am at Countryside Community Church, 14011 Orchard Drive, Clarks Summit. Interment to follow at Abington Hills Cemetery, S. Abington Twp. The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday from 5-7 pm at Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., 11 Colburn Avenue, Clarks Summit.