James H. Thompson

THOMPSON, James H. 80, a near fifty year resident of Chelmsford died on November 1, 2008 after a long illness. He met and married Mary E. Young of Derry, NH when they both worked in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Thompson died in 2002. He was born in Fort Covington, NY the son of the late Francis A. and Mary A. (Paquet) Thompson. Upon completion of high school in Island Pond, Vermont in 1945, he enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 17. As a reservist he also served a term of active duty during the Korean War. A beneficiary of the WWII GI Bill, Mr. Thompson was a Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa scholar at the University of Maine where he received a BA degree. He obtained an MA degree at the American University in Washington, D.C. Following retirement from the Federal government, he became a dedicated volunteer and hiker. He was a one day a week volunteer for the Lowell General Hospital for 12 years and for the Chelmsford Meals-On-Wheels program for three. Before retirement he also coached Chelmsford Youth Basketball and Little League Baseball. As a hiker he visited the tops of many NH peaks including the three highest. At age 69 he hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back on successive days. He summarized his prescription for a successful life in a few words, "Learn, do good, be well, abhor evil, work diligently, know why and enjoy life." He leaves two sons, Michael Thompson and his wife Josline of Chelmsford and Peter Thompson and his wife Lee of Nashua, NH and two granddaughters, Natasha and Allison. He also leaves two sisters and one brother in-law, Anne Darling of Hartford, CT and Mary Ambrose and her husband John of Searsport, ME and their children. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday evening from 5 to 8pm at the Blake Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD. A Service of Remembrance will be held on Thursday morning at 10 o'clock at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Mr. Thompson's name to Lowell General Hospital, c/o Development Office, 295 Varnum Ave., Lowell, MA 01854.