Elmer Thompson

A celebration of the “Home Going” of Bo Thompson will be Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10 AM at Ridgewood Baptist Church under the direction of Kernodle Funeral Home with Rev. Carl Weatherford officiating, burial will be in Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Forrest City, Arkansas. Mr. Thompson was born on July 5, 1920 to Flanders and Ethel Gill Thompson and was welcomed home by his Heavenly Father Sunday, February 19, 2012 at the age of 91 years 6 months and 14 days. He was married to Roxie Ann Troy Thompson on June 7, 1945 and three children were born to that union, Eugene, Carl and Billy Thompson. The couple also raised two nieces, Naomi and Nona Mae Huskisson. On September 8, 1967 Bo and Clara Fay Smith Thompson were married. Mr. Thompson worked as a carpenter with his father until entering the Navy in June, 1943. After the war he returned to Forrest City and began working as a Grocer with Broadway Grocery, Thompson’s Grocery on North Division and later on South Division. After retiring from the grocery business, he took up carpentry again, working until just a few years ago. Mr. Thompson loved his church and served faithfully in various capacities, notably as a Sunday School teacher for over 50 years. He played on the church softball team until he was well into his seventies. He loved singing and playing his guitar. The last few years he and a group of friends made visits twice a week to local nursing homes singing and playing for, and with, the residents. Mr. Thompson is preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Roxie Ann Troy Thompson; two brothers, Francis (Dougie) Thompson and Marion (Wilfred) Thompson; two sisters, Hazel Martin and Mildred Dunn; step son Larry Smith; grandson Steven Carl Thompson; and great grandsons, Nathan Thompson and James Brock. Mr. Thompson is survived by his wife Clara; sons, Eugene Thompson and wife Linda of Ardmore, OK; Carl Thompson and wife Lee of Bay Minette, AL; Billy Thompson and wife Karen of Forrest City; step-children, Lola Ponder and husband Elmer of Colt; Charlotte Barnette of Wynne; Sharon Hillis and husband Gary of West Memphis, David Smith and wife Evelyn of Chrestview, FL; Christopher Smith of Santa Rosa, CA; Belinda Hollis and husband Bobby of Cherokee Village, AR; beloved nieces Naomi Thomas and Nona Edwards and husband Jim, both of Mountain View, AR; 21 grandchildren and 50 great grandchildren. Family visitation will be Tuesday, February 21 at Kernodle Funeral Home from 6 to 8 PM. Memorial contributions can be made to the Ridgewood Baptist Church Building Fund.

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Elmer Thompson

July 5, 1920 - February 19, 2012