Obituary of Arthur G Thompson

OBITUARY Graveside services for Mr. Arthur G. Thompson, age 91, of Oxford, formerly of Roanoke, will be held 1:00 pm, Saturday, January 16, 2010, from Randolph Memory Gardens with Rev. Donald Phillips officiating. Burial to follow in Cemetery with Quattlebaum Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Saturday, January 16, 2010. Mr. Thompson passed peacefully in his sleep January 13, 2010. Born June 6, 1918, Art was 91 years old. By his side were Mike White, his friend and more recently, devoted caregiver for 15 years, and family and friends who had gathered to be with him. Art leaves behind a son, Clayton and daughter-in-law Kris from Wetumpka; a daughter Robbie Richter from Cloudland, GA; three grandchildren, Eric Richter, his wife Janet and great-grandchildren Charlie and Abigail of Suwanee, GA; Sarah Stebbins, her husband, Ryan, and great-grandson William of San Antonio, TX, and Kate Jackman, her husband, Charles, and great-granddaughter Claire of Birmingham. Mr. Thompson was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Ruth Claire Sheets Thompson, his parents Grover Cleveland Thompson, SR., Ida Mae Wright Thompson, and by four brothers and sisters; Catherine Traylor, Eleanor Piland, his twin Anna Gray Stinnet, and G. C. Thompson, Jr. He is survived by one brother, Howard Lewis Thompson of Roanoke, VA. Art served in the Army during WWII and spent 44 months in the South Pacific Theatre away from Ruth, his bride of one week. Returning from the war, Art went to work in the natural gas transmission industry in Appomattox, VA, transferring from there to Wadley, AL in 1953. Art retired 32 years later from Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. with unprecedented safety awards as superintendent of Station 110. He was known and loved for the puzzles and keepsakes that he made and gave away. Many newlyweds, friends and family members have a coffee-grinder lamp, towel rack, corner shelf, or a book of magic numbers. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. The family would like to thank Dr. Michael Hanna, Renee Lehr, Jill Hobbs and Barbara Phillips, who were all dedicated to Art's perfect care. The family requests no flowers. Instead, please consider donating a pint of blood in honor of Art and other veterans who have served their country.