She was the daughter of Paul and Amanda Ames and lived much of her life in Oakland. Arleen graduated from Oakland High School and went to work at Southern Pacific in San Francisco as a keypunch operator. She married Harold Thompson in 1940 and followed him to his wartime postings in Susanville and Twenty Nine Palms, Calif. where he served as a civilian flight instructor for the U.S. Army.
A homemaker for the rest of her life, she was devoted to her family and home. Harold died in 1984, and four years later, Arleen married Clifford Challberg, who died in 1998.
She moved to Summerset in 2002 and enjoyed living there, making many friends and participating in the social life of the community. She attended Resurrection Ministry Lutheran Church while living there. In 2010, she moved to Eskaton Assisted Living facility and was very happy living there with her little Yorkie, Angel.
Arleen is missed by her daughter, Bonnie Thompson Reece-Oliver, and son, Ronald Thompson; five grandchildren, Annette Carpenter, Pat Hurst-Alger, Laura Carpenter, Scott Thompson and Blake Thompson; six great-grandchildren, Jared Bickers, Justin Bickers, Ashley Bickers, Thomas Hurst, Amanda Hurst and Kayla Carpenter; and six great-great-grandchildren, Ieke Bickers, Zoe Bickers, Nova Lee, Grace Bickers, Skyla Easter and Isaac Carpenter.
A celebration of her life will be held at Resurrection Ministry Lutheran Church on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 11 a.m. Donations may be made to Shepherd’s Gate, 605 Sycamore Ave., Brentwood, CA 94513.


