Ertle 83 Thompson

Dr. Ertle Thompson

Dr. Ertle Thompson, 83, passed peacefully into the arms of his Savior on Tuesday, June 5, 2012. He was born on March 30, 1929, in a small farmhouse in Feds Creek, Kentucky, the son of the late Benjamin Harrison Thompson and Bertha Rowe Thompson.

Ertle grew up in the coal fields of Eastern Kentucky, where no one ever imagined his early hunger for knowledge would take him so far from home and grow into such a successful career in the field of Science Education. After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Kentucky, he began his teaching career in Southwest Virginia. Teaching science quickly became his life's passion, and he moved his family to Charlottesville in 1957 to continue his graduate studies, earning both his Master's and Doctorate degrees in Science Education from the University of Virginia.

Ertle's work as a Professor of Science in the University of Virginia Curry School of Education spanned decades. During that time, he was instrumental in turning science into a fun and interactive way of learning that was contagious. He served as science advisor to several state governors and textbook publishers, and a mentor to hundreds of science teachers throughout the country. He was recognized often as an outstanding leader in many professional science organizations, including the National Association of Science Teachers, the Association for the Education of Science Teachers, the Virginia Academy of Sciences and the Appalachian Mathematical Sciences Partnership. Although most of his career was focused on helping teachers, his most enjoyable work was judging high school science fairs - discovering and encouraging talented young people to pursue their dreams. While his distinguished career and loving family took him from his humble beginnings into 46 states, he chose to remain a professor at the University of Virginia until his retirement in 2001; but he never forgot his roots as he remained forever a University of Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Fan! His passion was science education, but his first love was his family. Ertle is survived by his wife of 58 years, June Jordan Thompson; a son, Mike S. Thompson and wife, Carol Lynn Maxwell Thompson, of Charlottesville; a daughter, Harriett T. Mundell and husband, Bob, and their family, granddaughter, Alisa M. Esperat and husband, Robb, and their three boys, great-grandsons, Robertson Joab, Simeon Eran, and Gideon Anders, and grandson, Matthew R. Mundell and wife, Trisha, and their children, great-grandson, Escher Ryan, and soon to be born great-granddaughter, Riley Elizabeth, all of Virginia Beach; and a son, Benjamin C. Thompson and his wife. Linda Helf, of Charlottesville, and his children, granddaughter. Amanda F. Dunkum and husband. Chip, and grandson. Richard Joseph, RJ, of Dillwyn.

He was predeceased in death by a third son, Richard E Thompson. Dr. Thompson is also survived by five sisters, Ezel Abshire, Euna Thompson, and Eunice Miller of Feds Creek, Kentucky, Evon Hamlin and husband, Omer, and Emoline Whitehead and husband, Sam, of Lexington, Kentucky; and by numerous nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased in death by his brother, Ermel Thompson of Feds Creek, Kentucky. The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff at The Laurels for their loving care and support. A private family service and burial will be held at the Thompson Family Cemetery in Feds Creek, Kentucky.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made in Ertle's honor to Cherry Avenue Christian Church in Charlottesville or to the American Cancer Society for Melanoma Research.



This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.