Alba C. (Martinelli) Thompson (1918 - 2013)

Born 13 Aug 1918 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States

Wife of Loren B. Thompson — married 30 Oct 1948 (to 21 Dec 1977) in New York City, New York, United States

Died 2 Jan 2013 at age 94 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA

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Biography

Alba C Martinelli was born 13 Aug 1918 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. She was the daughter of Luigi and Elisa (Malaguti) Martinelli.

She graduated from he graduated from Bridgewater Teachers College with a bachelor's degree in Education, and Boston University, Graduate Study in History. Also received Civil Affairs Training at Stanford University and School of Military Government at the University of Virginia.

Alba was commissioned a Second Lieutenant (2LT) in the Women's Army Auxillary Corps (WAAC) in 1942, which became the Women's Army Corps (WAC) in Jul 1943. She separated from active duty with rank of Major, Military Police Corps in 1948, and discharged from active Army Reserve in 1952.

She was the wife of Loren B. Thompson. They were married 30 Oct 1948 in New York City, in a civil ceremony. Together they had two sons, Loren B. Thompson Jr, and Anthony A. Thompson.

A bit of controversy: In January 1951 this former WAC major and mother made the cover of "Parade" magazine (see image on right). Alba (Martinelli) Thompson had been discharged from the Army Reserve as a result of pregnancy. She and her husband, Col Loren B. Thompson challenged the military regulation that stipulated female reservists with children under eighteen be discharged to no avail.

Active with politics, Alba was elected to the to the Board of Education in Livingston, N.J., served as president for two terms, twice elected to the Board of Selectmen in Plymouth from 1986-1989 and 1989-1992 and chairmen from 1988-1990. She had extensive travel including USSR, Central Asia, East Asia, Europe, and North Africa with sabbatical in Japan, South Korea and China.

Alba C. (Martinelli) Thompson passed away 2 Jan 2013 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA. She was buried at the Vine Hills Cemetery in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA.

Sources

• 1940 United States Federal Census Source Info. Census & Voter Lists. Name Alba Martinelli Birth abt 1919 Massachusetts Residence 1940 , Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. Residence 1935 Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Father Louis Martinelli. Mother Eliza Martinelli. Sibling Cleo Martinelli. (Ref: 1940 Census image #4).

• New York, New York, Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018. NAME: Alba C Martinelli GENDER: Female MARRIAGE LICENSE DATE: 30 Oct 1948. MARRIAGE LICENSE PLACE: Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. SPOUSE: Loren B Thompson. LICENSE NUMBER: 34240.

• U.S., Find A Grave Index 1600s-Current: NAME Alba C. (Martinelli) Thompson. BIRTH 13 Aug 1918. Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA. DEATH 2 Jan 2013 (aged 94). Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA. BURIAL Vine Hills Cemetery, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA. MEMORIAL ID 103112301 · View Source URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103112301/alba-c_-thompson

• Obituary published in The Patriot Ledger on January 5, 2013. Alba C. (Martinelli) Thompson of Plymouth died Jan. 2, in Life Care Center of Plymouth. She was burial in Vine Hills Cemetery in Plymouth. Cartmell-Davis Funeral Home did the arrangements and funeral. URL: https://www.cartmelldavis.com/obituaries/Alba-C-Thompson?obId=3362194#/obituaryInfo

• The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans. Included is the Alba C. Martinelli Thompson Collection URL: https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/loc.natlib.afc2001001.84735