Marion Josephine Thompson, of Newbury Court, Concord, died peacefully on October 16, 2021, following a brief illness. She was born February 14, 1921 in Conneaut, Ohio, the daughter of Italian and Finnish parents. Her childhood years were spent in Fairview Park, Ohio, where she graduated from high school in 1939. During the Depression she worked several jobs in order to attend Dyke Business College at night. She was married in October of 1944, to Lieutenant Eugene Dietrich, in Biloxi, Mississippi. Shortly after their wedding, he was killed when his plane was shot down during the war. Given her interest in exploring the world, as a young widow she chose to spend two years with the occupation forces in Japan under General MacArthur. She traveled widely in the Far East during those years. Eventually she joined the U.S. State Department as a secretary, with a first post in Paris. Next she landed in Ankara, Turkey, where she met her second husband, Malcolm Thompson, a foreign service diplomat. They were married in September 1957 on the island of Capri. Their daughter Cynthia was born in 1961. During nearly twenty years in Turkey, Marion and Malcolm traveled extensively in the Middle East. As a diplomat's wife, her duties included event planning and frequent entertaining of local dignitaries. She excelled at this, but she was most proud of her role as a teacher of English to local Turkish residents. After multiple posts abroad, Malcolm and Marion retired to Fairhaven Hill, Concord. They enjoyed their time together on Fairhaven Hill, while still indulging their passion for extensive travel in the U.S. and abroad. Marion was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church and the Concord Garden Club, and was involved with organizations to support housing for the elderly. She lost her husband Malcolm in 1998. Her remaining years were spent as an enthusiastic resident of the Newbury Court community in Concord, Massachusetts; she was on both the Green Committee and the Newbury Court Staff Scholarship Fund Committee. Marion was known for her great interest in local, national, and world politics. She was an avid reader of both fiction and nonfiction, and loved a good discussion on any topic. She is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Knauss of Concord, and grandsons Andrew and Christopher Knauss, both of Denver, Colorado. Marion will be deeply missed by her family, multiple nieces and nephews, and her friends. Marion will be laid to rest during a private burial service at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Doctors Without Borders or Planned Parenthood . Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.