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Robert 'Bob' Thompson
[January
16, 2014]
ATLANTA — Robert J. "Bob" Thompson, 87,
of Atlanta, died on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014, at 5:13 p.m. at
Advocate BroMenn Regional Medical Center in Normal.
(Below is a copy of
the obituary from the funeral home.)
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Atlanta -- Robert J. "Bob" Thompson, 87, of Atlanta,
died at 5:13 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at
Advocate BroMenn Regional Medical Center in Normal.
Funeral Services for Mr. Thompson will be held at
3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 19, 2014, at Eminence
Christian Church in rural Atlanta. Dr. LC Sutton
will officiate.
Visitation will be held from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30
p.m. on Saturday, January 18, 2014, at Quiram-Peasley
Funeral Home in Atlanta, and for one hour prior to
the funeral at the church on Sunday.
Burial will be in the Atlanta Cemetery. Military
Rites will be accorded by Atlanta American Legion
Post 341.
Robert James Thompson was born on June 14, 1926, in
Eminence Township, outside of Atlanta, the son of
Ray E. and Ida Crihfield Thompson. He married
Kathryn "Kay" Carson on Sept. 6, 1952, at The Little
Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. She
survives.
Bob is survived by his wife; two sons: Doug (LaVerne)
Thompson of Atlanta and Brian (Karen) Thompson of
Heyworth; one daughter-in-law, Adriana Thompson of
Puebla, Mexico; six grandchildren: Janelle (Brett)
Hermann of Monticello; Nathan Thompson of Nashville,
Tenn.; Adam Thompson of Spain; Jason (Sharon) Hogan
of Calif.; Michelle (Andy) Baragona of Heyworth; and
Kelsey Thompson of Heyworth; one
great-granddaughter, Quinn Baragona; and two
brothers: William N. (Geraldine) Thompson of Urbana
and Ray E. Thompson, Jr. of Galesburg.
Mr. Thompson was preceded in death by his parents;
one son, Mark Thompson; one sister, Mary Mason and
one brother, Samuel Thompson.
Growing up, Bob and his brother, Ray, and their
mother would entertain at country schools, singing
and playing the banjo and ukulele. Bob graduated
from Atlanta High School in 1944 with the rank of
class salutatorian. He then served in the United
States Navy as a Seabee until 1946 and was stationed
in Okinawa. One Christmas during his service, his
mother managed to send him home-cooked chicken in
glass jars, which was a source of great pride to
Bob. Upon his return, Bob enrolled in the University
of Illinois, joined Farmhouse Fraternity and
graduated in 1950 with a degree in Agriculture.
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Bob was a 75-year member of Eminence Christian
Church in rural Atlanta, where he had served as
Elder, Deacon, Board Treasurer and Sunday School
Superintendent. As a 54 year member of the Atlanta
Rotary Club, Bob was a past president and a Paul
Harris Fellow of Rotary International. He was also a
member of Masonic Lodge #164 A.F. & A.M. in Atlanta
for 63 years.
A steadfast civic supporter, Bob served on the
Atlanta School Board and was the first president and
last surviving charter member of the original
Olympia School Board, and was a former Atlanta Park
Board member. Bob was currently serving on the
Atlanta National Bank Board, of which he was a past
president, and was the current president of the
Eminence Grain and Coal Co. Board. He was a former
Boy Scout Leader and Eminence Township Assessor. In
the 1950s, Bob taught an agriculture class to
veterans from Korea in Hartsburg.
Bob farmed his whole life and was very involved in
completing the 2013 harvest. He loved his family,
his church and his country with all his heart.
Memorials may be made to Eminence Christian Church
in Atlanta or the Atlanta Ladies' Cemetery
Association.
Final arrangements are entrusted with Quiram-Peasley
Funeral Home of Atlanta.
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