Richard "Dick" Thompson

Boardman - Richard J. "Dick" Thompson, 85, of Boardman, died Thursday, March 20, 2008 at the Hospice House. Mr. Thompson was born Friday, November 3, 1922 in Youngstown, a son of Charles S. and Harriet Stuehr Thompson. A 1940 graduate of South High School, he was inducted in to the US Army in 1943. Mr. Thompson served in the European Theater in the 78th infantry and received the Combat Infantry Badge, Presidential Citation, Good Conduct Medal, European Theater Service Medal with three Bronze Stars and the WWII victory medal. He was a former member of the First Christian Church, which is now the Disciples Christian Church in Boardman, where he served as a Deacon, Elder and Greeter. He enjoyed woodworking and cross-stitching and won many ribbons in the Canfield Fair. Mr. Thompson worked at Peoples Bank as a teller, where he met his wife, the former Geraldine Blank, whom he married May 20, 1947. He later worked at Republic Steel in the Metalurgical department then the Mahoning Valley Supply Company for 49 years, retiring in 1996. Following retirement, Mr. Thompson went back to work at Torque Drive in Warren. He was a member of the Western Star Lodge F & AM # 21, then a charter member of the Poland Masonic Lodge #766, serving as the Worshipful Master. He was a 32nd degree Scottish rite Mason. He was a member of the Ashler chapter of the Royal Arch Masons # 213, Charter member of the High 12 #720, Temple on the Hill, past president of the Diamond Club of district 2 Order of the Eastern Star, where he was past Worthy Patron of the Trias Chapter #523 OES, a member of the Miriam Chapter # 271 OES. He also was a member of the Poland Masonic Breakfast Club, the Poland Masonic Golf League, and a past associate Bethel Guardian of Bethel # 82 of the International Order of Job's Daughters. Besides his wife, he leaves three daughters, Sandra (David) Dunbar of Raleigh, NC, Patricia (Wickham) Flower of Berlin Center and Sheryl Ligotti of Boardman; one sister, Florence Babcock of Youngstown; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Violet Thompson. Funeral services will be held at Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home, Monday, March 24, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Wallace Ryan-Kuroiwa officiating. Interment will follow in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Boardman. Family and friends will be received 4-7 p.m. Saturday, March 22 at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home, Poland, where Masonic and Eastern Star services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Thompson's name to the Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St., Boardman, OH 44512. Condolences may be sent at www.beckerobits.com .

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