Joseph Richard Thompson Joseph Richard Thompson age 93 died Saturday March 3, 2012 at Baptist Memorial Hospital Columbus. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday March 10, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Columbus, with Dr. Sam Morris, Rev. Tony Proctor, Rev. Anne Russell Bradley, and Rev. Claire Dobbs officiating. Visitation will be held Saturday from 9:30 til service time at the church. Mr. Thompson was born in Caledonia, MS to the late Cyrus Alexander Thompson and Elizabeth Vaughn Thompson. He lived in Columbus his entire life except for his time in the armed services. He attended Franklin Academy and S. D. Lee High School in Columbus before graduating from Mississippi State University with a B. S. Degree in Business Administration. Being of the Great Generation, six years were spent in the armed services during World War II and the Korean conflict where he achieved the rank of captain. Serving in Europe he received the Bronze Star medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. He later was appointed a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor of France. Mr. Thompson was a charter member of the Columbus Host Lions Club, the Five County Life Underwriters Association and held the Senior Instructor designation in the National Association of Life Underwriters. Since 1947 he had represented the Equitable Life Assurance Society which was later known as AXA of New York achieving the level of Master Agent. As a lifetime member of the First Methodist Church he served on the Administrative Board and several committees. He was on the building committee of the Emily Fletcher Jones education building, and he taught Sunday School classes most of his adult life. Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Jo Moore Thompson, his children, Angela Thompson Abbott from Jackson, MS, Vernon Moore Thompson and his wife, Shirley, from Anniston, AL, and James Richard Thompson and his wife, Patricia Morris, from Athens, AL. He was also blessed with ten grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. Honorary Pallbearers will be: The Stuckenschneider Sunday School Study Group Sunday School Class Dr. Michael Duckworth Cathy Bush, caregiver Fred Hayslett B.A. Atkins Charlie Bond Memorials may be made to: First United Methodist Church P.O. Box 32 Columbus, MS 39703 Or The charity of your choice.
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