Laura Faye Marlin Thompson, 83, passed away on August 7, 2025.  Born in Johnston County, NC, she has been a resident of Tidewater for 20 years.
For three years, Laura served in the US Navy as a hospital corpsman/EKG & BMR Technician, after which she graduated from Atlantic Christian College majoring in Art Education and East Carolina University where she earned her Master's degree in Counseling.  She worked at Elm City School and Hunt High School in Wilson County, NC, teaching art and at Winstead Elementary School in Wilson and Ocracoke School on the Outer Banks as a Guidance Counselor.  She retired from teaching in 1996 after 24 years.  During this time, she faithfully devoted herself to sharing her love of art with numerous students, no doubt inspiring many of them to continue creating for years.  Laura's heart was always available for the many students she taught, and she cared for them way beyond the classroom.
Laura was preceded in death by her parents, Rachel and Robert Marlin, Sr. ; brothers, Duke Lee and Larry Marlin; and sister-in-law Aileen Marlin.   She is survived by her husband of 62 years, E. Larry Thompson; daughters, Stephanie T. Trejo and Julie T. Nguyen (Chi); grandchildren, Jacob (Charlotte), Gracie, Michael, Kathryn, and Caleb; great-granddaughter, Emilia; sister, Elaine Morgan (Donald); brother, Bob Marlin; and sister-in-law, Bridget Marlin.
Laura and Larry spent their pre-retirement years at Ocracoke, NC and loved to fish as often as possible.  She also loved being the one to catch the "biggest" fish!  Some of the best family memories were made on the sands of Ocracoke with her daughters, grandchildren, sister and brother, and nieces and nephews.  Laura's love of art and creating was shared with the family, and this creativity will live on through her grandchildren and family who now hold her passion for designing, painting, and creating.  Laura was strong, giving, caring, and faithful and spent her life dedicated to Larry, the love of her life, whom she met in Portsmouth, VA 64 years ago.  Go in Peace and God bless her.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy to take the form of contributions to the Art classes taught at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Newport News and Smithfield Public Schools.

Arrangements are being provided by Berceuse Funeral and Cremation Traditions in Hampton, 757-825-8070.