Obituaries

Jess Ward Thompson Jr.

Jess Ward Thompson Jr. of Clarksville, Arkansas died at his home surrounded by family and friends November 30, 2010 in Clarksville. He was 83. Thompson was a Navy veteran serving in World War II and the Korean conflict. He was an atomic veteran stationed on the USS Bayfield and present during atomic testing in the Bikini Atoll in 1946. Operation Crossroads was designed to determine the effects of nuclear testing on naval ships. The explosion sank five ships including the USS Arkansas. As quoted the Courier Democrat," We had no protection," Thompson said. "We didn't have goggles, didn't have anything. We were told to turn our heads. I saw the battleship Arkansas go down. It stood right up on its end." He married Nettie Tinsley in 1951 and established his longtime business, Thompson Automotive in 1953. He was a founder and member of the Cherry Street Baptist Church in Clarksville. He was a former Light and Water Commissioner in Clarksville as well as a member of the downtown renovation committee. He was preceded in death by his parents Jess Thompson, Sr. and Eleonora Thompson as well as a sister, Dorothy Edwards. He is survived by his wife Nettie and three daughters, Teri Thompson and husband Jim Herre of Weston, Connecticut, Nancy Thompson and husband David Heim of Newton, Kansas, and Cheryl Thompson and husband Jeff Sears of Weston, Connecticut, two grandchildren, Erin Heim and John Sears, three sisters, Mary Henderson of Rogers, Arkansas, Anna Brewer and husband Robert of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Barbara Wilson and husband Toby of Clarksville, and one brother Raymond Thompson and wife Jane of Whispering Pines, North Carolina, several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Hardwicke Funeral Chapel in Clarksville from 6 to 8 p.m., December 2, 2010. A memorial celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 3, 2010 at Cherry Street Baptist Church in Clarksville, Arkansas with the Reverend Billy Usery and Reverend Rusty Bushong officiating. Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to Needy Paws, P.O. Box 523 Clarksville, Ark. 72830, Arkansas Baptist Children's Home, #10 Remington Drive, Little Rock, Ark. 72204 or Arkansas Hospice, 2405 East Parkway, Suite 3, Russellville, Arkansas 72802.

Published December 2, 2010

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