Bernard Charles Thompson, 92 passed away on June 1, 2024, under hospice care at home.
Bernie’s younger years were spent on a farm in Hillsdale, Michigan. The family moved to Farmington, Michigan after his father passed away. After graduating high school, Bernie proudly serviced in the United States Air Force where he was stationed in Okinawa, during the Korean War.
Bernie had a natural talent for discovering how things worked. After serving in the Air Force, he studied at the Chrysler Institute of Engineering, Henry Ford Jr. College, and later Millikin University. He put his education and talents to good use working in the engineering division of Chrysler Corporation in Michigan, Borg Warner Corporation in Illinois, and later as the Manufacturing Engineering Manager for Ronson Hydraulics Corporation, and Plant Manager for Krimminger Machine in North Carolina.
Bernie and his wife Meg retired to the Lake Norman area to a home he helped build. He enjoyed volunteering for area non-profits. He was also a lifelong Indy and NASCAR fan attending hundreds of races with friends and family. He enjoyed traveling with Air Force Veteran groups, visiting family and friends across the country and most of all, being with his family at home logging on thousands of nautical miles with his grandchildren in tow.
He is loved and missed by his wife of 62 years Meg; his children Deborah Bader, Diane Buckstaff, Gordon Thompson, and Jaqueline Dula; 14 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Bernie is preceded in death by his brother Hubert Thompson, sister Sylvia Gregg, son Douglas Thompson, and sister-in-law Deane Thomas.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 10:00AM at Rehobeth United Methodist Church in Terrell, NC. Military Honors will be rendered by the United States Air Force. The family will receive friends following the service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following charities or a charity of your choice in Bernie’s memory. Christian Food Pantry of Sherrills Ford; 2211 Hopewell Church Road, Sherrills Ford NC 28673; Rehobeth United Methodist Church PO Box 356 Terrell, NC 28682; or North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame 119 Knob Hill Road Mooresville, NC 28115 (a no-profit that preserves racing history and supports abused children through Pharos Parenting)
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