Nelda Thompson Doyle
Nelda Jo Thompson Doyle was born April 4th 1935 in Emmet, Arkansas to Joe Thomas
Thompson & Pauline Rowe Thompson. Nelda went to be with the Lord on April 18th,
2012 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Nelda enjoyed her childhood and teenage years in and around Hope, Arkansas. She
loved being with both her Thompson and Rowe cousins and often recounted family
stories. Nelda graduated from Hope High School in 1953. “The Class of ‘53” was very
special to her. Those life-long friendships were a source of strength and pride. She was a
member of the Bobcat Band and was a twirler and the Drum Major. Her high school year
book states “all she needs is a baton and Tommy”. Tommy Doyle was her childhood
sweetheart and steady high school beau. They were married on August 23, 1953 at the
First Baptist Church in Hope.
Nelda and Tommy started their life together in Magnolia, Arkansas as students at
Southern State. Nelda was an English major and loved literature. She enjoyed her time in
Magnolia. Educational endeavors were put on hold for a number of years while she and
Tommy raised their family. The family lived in Arkansas and Texas. She especially
enjoyed the times they spent in Webster and Santa Fe.
Nelda returned to college in the 1970’s and earned a Nursing degree from Alvin
Community College. She became a Registered Nurse and had a long successful career.
She worked at Clear Lake Hospital in Webster, TX, was a visiting nurse in Tyler
County, TX and completed her career at the University of Texas Medical Branch in
Galveston. She loved her time at UTMB and the wonderful professionals she worked
with. Nelda retired from UTMB in 1997. Two weeks after her retirement, Nelda faced
the death of her husband and life partner, Tommy. They had shared forty four years of
marriage and had three daughters. Nelda remained in Texas until 2006 when she moved
to Edmond, Oklahoma.
In Oklahoma, Nelda became active in the Oklahoma Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution--Samuel King Chapter. Her love for Literature and Literacy again
surfaced as she became the Oklahoma statewide chairman for Literacy. She is a proven
descendent of ten American Revolution patriots. Her patriots include: Israel Lorton,
Jacob Lorton, George Bayne, William Godbey, Jesse Holcomb, Benjamin Hadsell,
William Howard, Sullivan Pearson, John Rhodes, & Benjamin Rowe. She appreciated
the values and mission of the NSDAR. Nelda also became of member of the Colonial
Dames of the Seventeenth Century, William Rives Chapter. She took pleasure in these
organizations and their members. Nelda also had a special group of Oklahoma friends
with which she played cards, dined and shopped. She was a member of the First
Methodist Church in Dickinson, TX and in Edmond, OK. Nelda enjoyed volunteering in
the church and loved to hear the choir. Nelda loved all of her family and wanted all to
achieve their dreams. She will be missed by all.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Applewhite Doyle, parents J.T. &
Pauline Thompson and her brother-in-law Clois Jackson.
Nelda is survived by three daughters: Nancy Doyle Gorczynski & husband Richard;
Suzanne Doyle; Rosalind Doyle Triplett & husband Marvin. Her grandchildren; The
Doyle-Toepp clan---Laura Toepp Martin Hamood & husband Brent; Belinda Sue Toepp
Sizemore & husband Allen; Travis Vincent Toepp & wife Jessie; Jason Thomas Toepp.
The Doyle-Triplett Clan Brenda Triplett Cummings & husband, Mark; Todd Triplett &
wife Carie; Sonya Triplett Lamle King & husband Larry. Great Grandchildren; Ethan
Martin, Orion Toepp, Emma Hamood, Cadence Toepp, Amanda Cummings, Chase
Lamle, Jessica Cummings, Austin Vaughn, Randi Lamle, Caleb Triplett, & Jenna
Triplett. Sister: Lana Thompson Goad Munn & nephew Joe Goad. Sister-in-Law:
Claudette Doyle Jackson Wilson & husband Buddy. Nephews Bill Jackson & wife
Ellen; Charles Jackson & wife Peggy; Niece, Janet Jackson Gronwaldt & husband Bob.
Special Grandpets—Kirby, Bonnie Boy & Priscilla.
Chapel services were Friday, April 27, 2012, at Herndon-Pharr Funeral Home at 11:00 a.
m. with Jerry Westmoreland officiating. Interment was in Snell Cemetery beside her
husband of 44 years, Tommy Applewhite Doyle.
Thompson & Pauline Rowe Thompson. Nelda went to be with the Lord on April 18th,
2012 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Nelda enjoyed her childhood and teenage years in and around Hope, Arkansas. She
loved being with both her Thompson and Rowe cousins and often recounted family
stories. Nelda graduated from Hope High School in 1953. “The Class of ‘53” was very
special to her. Those life-long friendships were a source of strength and pride. She was a
member of the Bobcat Band and was a twirler and the Drum Major. Her high school year
book states “all she needs is a baton and Tommy”. Tommy Doyle was her childhood
sweetheart and steady high school beau. They were married on August 23, 1953 at the
First Baptist Church in Hope.
Nelda and Tommy started their life together in Magnolia, Arkansas as students at
Southern State. Nelda was an English major and loved literature. She enjoyed her time in
Magnolia. Educational endeavors were put on hold for a number of years while she and
Tommy raised their family. The family lived in Arkansas and Texas. She especially
enjoyed the times they spent in Webster and Santa Fe.
Nelda returned to college in the 1970’s and earned a Nursing degree from Alvin
Community College. She became a Registered Nurse and had a long successful career.
She worked at Clear Lake Hospital in Webster, TX, was a visiting nurse in Tyler
County, TX and completed her career at the University of Texas Medical Branch in
Galveston. She loved her time at UTMB and the wonderful professionals she worked
with. Nelda retired from UTMB in 1997. Two weeks after her retirement, Nelda faced
the death of her husband and life partner, Tommy. They had shared forty four years of
marriage and had three daughters. Nelda remained in Texas until 2006 when she moved
to Edmond, Oklahoma.
In Oklahoma, Nelda became active in the Oklahoma Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution--Samuel King Chapter. Her love for Literature and Literacy again
surfaced as she became the Oklahoma statewide chairman for Literacy. She is a proven
descendent of ten American Revolution patriots. Her patriots include: Israel Lorton,
Jacob Lorton, George Bayne, William Godbey, Jesse Holcomb, Benjamin Hadsell,
William Howard, Sullivan Pearson, John Rhodes, & Benjamin Rowe. She appreciated
the values and mission of the NSDAR. Nelda also became of member of the Colonial
Dames of the Seventeenth Century, William Rives Chapter. She took pleasure in these
organizations and their members. Nelda also had a special group of Oklahoma friends
with which she played cards, dined and shopped. She was a member of the First
Methodist Church in Dickinson, TX and in Edmond, OK. Nelda enjoyed volunteering in
the church and loved to hear the choir. Nelda loved all of her family and wanted all to
achieve their dreams. She will be missed by all.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Applewhite Doyle, parents J.T. &
Pauline Thompson and her brother-in-law Clois Jackson.
Nelda is survived by three daughters: Nancy Doyle Gorczynski & husband Richard;
Suzanne Doyle; Rosalind Doyle Triplett & husband Marvin. Her grandchildren; The
Doyle-Toepp clan---Laura Toepp Martin Hamood & husband Brent; Belinda Sue Toepp
Sizemore & husband Allen; Travis Vincent Toepp & wife Jessie; Jason Thomas Toepp.
The Doyle-Triplett Clan Brenda Triplett Cummings & husband, Mark; Todd Triplett &
wife Carie; Sonya Triplett Lamle King & husband Larry. Great Grandchildren; Ethan
Martin, Orion Toepp, Emma Hamood, Cadence Toepp, Amanda Cummings, Chase
Lamle, Jessica Cummings, Austin Vaughn, Randi Lamle, Caleb Triplett, & Jenna
Triplett. Sister: Lana Thompson Goad Munn & nephew Joe Goad. Sister-in-Law:
Claudette Doyle Jackson Wilson & husband Buddy. Nephews Bill Jackson & wife
Ellen; Charles Jackson & wife Peggy; Niece, Janet Jackson Gronwaldt & husband Bob.
Special Grandpets—Kirby, Bonnie Boy & Priscilla.
Chapel services were Friday, April 27, 2012, at Herndon-Pharr Funeral Home at 11:00 a.
m. with Jerry Westmoreland officiating. Interment was in Snell Cemetery beside her
husband of 44 years, Tommy Applewhite Doyle.
