Bobby Donald Thompson of West Point, Mississippi

September 27, 1939 - October 29, 2020

Bobby Donald Thompson died peacefully in his sleep while home on his beef cattle farm in Clay County, Mississippi, Wednesday, October 28th, 2020.  A graveside service with U.S. Air Force Honors will be held Monday November 2, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Memorial Gardens of Columbus with Rev. Bobby Sanderson officiating.

Bobby Don was born on Wednesday, September 27, 1939 in Ruleville, MS (Sunflower county) to the late Grover Leon and Jessie Beatrice “Sally Ann” Burnley Thompson. He was the owner/operator of Quality Auto Service, a U.S. Air Force Veteran and a past president of The Exchange Club of Columbus.
A 1957 graduate of Ruleville High School, he joined the US Naval Reserves. After his first cruise, he transferred to the U.S. Air Force to fulfill his active duty service commitment. Upon completion of Basic Training and Basic Air Police school, he was assigned to the 4228th Strategic Wing, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi where he secured the flight line and other sensitive areas as an Air Policeman and Sentry Dog Handler until he was discharged on June 1st, 1962. While serving in Columbus, he met the love of his life, Zerelda Mims Thompson, and they were married for 47 years until her passing in 2009. Growing up as the son of sharecroppers in the Mississippi Delta, Bobby came from humble beginnings. He married Zee in 1961 and they made Columbus their home. Bobby opened Quality Auto Service in August 1965. He performed and supervised automobile repairs until March 2009. He retired to his home and beef cattle farm and thoroughly enjoyed riding his tractor and tending his cattle where he most especially treasured his time with his kids and grandkids. He was the most senior member of the Columbus Exchange Club having joined August 1st, 1973.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Zerelda Mims Thompson, his sister Mavis Evelyn Everitt, and his brothers, Grady Leon Thompson, Billy Wayne Thompson, and Kenneth Floyd Thompson.

He is survived by his daughter, Gail Thompson (West Point, MS) and son, Donnie (Glen) Thompson (Orange Park, FL) and 7 grandchildren: Marcus Swentkofske (Arlington, VA), Kathryn (Tyler) Thompson-Ferguson (Jacksonville, FL), Bobby “Danny” Swentkofske (Gainesville, FL), Rosemary Thompson (St Augustine, FL), Jesslyn Thompson (Macclenny, FL), Madelyn Greathouse (Jacksonville, FL) and Caroline Greathouse (Jacksonville, FL). Bobby was the third of eight children born to Leon and Sally Ann Thompson and is survived by two brothers, Dale (Carol) Thompson, Roy (Gloria) Thompson, and a Sister, Frances (David) Troxler.
In keeping with Bobby’s sense of practicality, the family asks that in lieu of flowers you make a donation to either: The Exchange Club of Columbus https://exchangeclubofcolumbus.portalbuzz.com/ , SARDA https://sardaa.org/donate2/ , the American Red Cross https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/ , or a charity of your choice.