Christine Kirkland Thompson

Christine K. Thompson (née Malcolm), age 91, passed away peacefully on February 21, 2026. Born on July 9, 1934, in Dunfermline, Scotland, Christine carried a lifelong love of language, learning, and community.

In the 1950s, Christine emigrated to the United States, beginning a new chapter marked by curiosity, resilience, and a spirit of adventure. She eventually settled in Milwaukie, Oregon, suburbs of Portland, where she built a warm and welcoming home with her beloved husband, Lynn E. Thompson, who preceded her in death.

Christine devoted her professional life to the study and teaching of literature. As a Professor of English Literature at Portland State University, she inspired generations of students with her insight, humor, and devotion to humanities. Colleagues admired her and students cherished her thoughtful mentorship. Christine was also an avid knitter. Her expertise was widely recognized, and she was commissioned to create original patterns for specialty shops, producing numerous knitted masterpieces.

In her later years, Christine became a vibrant and beloved member of the Willamette View Retirement Community. She served as editor of the monthly community newsletter, bringing people together through stories, updates, and her keen editorial eye. She remained intellectually and socially active— participating in several book clubs, an actors’ group, and a variety of exercise classes. She especially treasured her Monday-evening ritual of dinner and The Rachel Maddow Show with her neighbors and dear friends, Steve and MaryJane. A special friendship with book-club companion Melinda—who often brought homemade oatcakes—delighted Christine and evoked her Scottish roots.

A lifelong lover of literature, she found great pleasure in reading and reciting the poetry of Robert Burns, and she was an admirer and thoughtful scholar of the works of Virginia Woolf and Jane Austen, whose writing resonated with her sense of wit, empathy, and human insight.

She enjoyed the natural beauty of the Oregon coast, where she loved spending time walking the shoreline, watching the waves, and finding quiet reflection.

Christine was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Catherine Malcolm; and brothers, Bruce Malcolm and Frank Malcolm.

She is survived by many who loved her deeply, including her seven nieces and nephews living across the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia, her extended family Changhua Wang and his wife, Suping Yang, and her childhood friend, Hilda Liebowitz in New York.

She will be remembered for her gentle spirit, her sharp mind, and the warmth and steadiness she brought to every relationship. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched—as a teacher, a friend, a neighbor, and a cherished member of her family and community.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be 11:00 am, Saturday, March 7, 2026, in the Second Floor Heron Lounge, Manor Building, Willamette View Retirement Community (12705 SE River Road, Portland, Oregon 97222). Friends and loved ones are invited to come together in remembrance and gratitude for Christine’s remarkable life.