Darlene Thompson, 77, of Asheville, North Carolina, passed away on June 10, 2026.
She was born May 15, 1949, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, to the late Blan and June Thompson and spent her early years on the family farm in Seneca Rocks.
Ms. Thompson attended Dixie Grade School, a four-room school in Riverton, for eight years before graduating from Circleville High School with the class of 1967.
She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work (corrections) in 1978 from East Tennessee State University and later a master’s degree in Christian counseling online.
In 1978, she moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where she began working for the Salvation Army until her retirement in 2018. She first served as a social worker then later became the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Community Corrections Program managed by the Salvation Army, where she remained in that role for more than 30 years.
Her mother taught her to read The Pendleton Times at age three. She remained a lifelong learner, challenging herself to learn a new word daily. The love of nature was instilled in her at an early age, influenced by her time on the farm and her father who worked for the forestry service. Throughout her life, she preferred being outdoors and loved admiring God’s handiwork of nature. Asheville’s mountain vistas and wildlife reminded her of her beautiful home in West Virginia. She enjoyed photographing nature and writing poems. She enjoyed taking daily walks through her neighborhood where she became a beloved friend to many. Her faith was an important part of her life with many charitable donations given to reflect her caring.
A friend to many, she will be deeply missed and her remarkable life will be remembered by those who loved her.
Surviving are a sister, Loretta Fern Barlow of Martinsburg; a brother, Dallas Harper (Doris) of Sanford, North Carolina; nephews, Robert Barlow (Kimberly) and Dexter Harper (Kelly); several great-nephews and great-nieces; and special friends, and neighbors.
She was also preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Henry Elmer and Mary Susan Harper; her paternal grandparents, Dillon and Blanche Harper; a brother-in-law, Robert Barlow; and a sister-in-law, Marie Harper.
There will be no funeral per her wishes. A memorial is planned for a later date. She requested that her ashes be spread at her home in West Virginia.
Suggestions of ways to honor her memory include donating to a favorite charity, planting a tree in her honor or donating a children’s book about nature to one’s local library.
Morris Funeral & Cremation Care of Asheville, North Carolina, was in charge of arrangements.
