Bessie Alice "Bess" Tompkins Feb. 24, 1928 - Nov. 25, 2015 Bessie Alice "Bess" Tompkins, 87 years, of Aurora, Illinois, died Wednesday, November 25, 2015, at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, Illinois. She was born February 24, 1928 in Star City, Indiana, the daughter of the late Charles and Elizabeth DeArmond. Bess worked for GTE prior to her retirement in 1985. After retirement she volunteered at La Porte Hospital, Old Holy Family and Fairview Hospitals. She was a former member of the First Baptist Church in LaPorte, Indiana, serving as a deacon within the church. Bess also worked on the Billy Graham Crusade (search committee, greeter, and other duties). She was a former member of the Auxiliary of the LaPorte Yacht Club. In 2006 she moved to Aurora, Illinois, in the Chatham Grove Subdivison, where she was very active in the community, and at this time she became a member of Valley Baptist Church in Oswego, Illinois. Bess is survived by a daughter Terry Tanzi of Naperville, IL, a son Mark Tompkins of San Jose, CA, four grandchildren Steven and Jeffrey Tanzi, Michael and Sara Tompkins, and three great grandchildren Dominick, Alexander and Katerina Tanzi. She was preceded in death by husband Maurice in 2004 and four brothers Leroy and Charles DeArmond, Ernest and John Weigle. Visitation will take place on Thursday, December 3, 2015, from 3 p.m. until the funeral service at 7 p.m. at the Dunn Family Funeral Home with Crematory 1801 Douglas Road Oswego, Illinois, with Pastor David Hemphill officiating. A reception will follow the service at the Valley Baptist Church 2480 Wolf Crossing Road Oswego, Illinois. A graveside service will be held on Friday, December 4, 2015 at 11 a.m. at Patton Cemetery in La Porte, Indiana. Memorials may be directed to either Valley Baptist Church 2480 Wolf Crossing Road Oswego, IL 60543 or Scleroderma Foundation 203 Wabash St #2219 Chicago, IL 60601.