John Harris "Johnny" Thompson Sr.

John Harris "Johnny" Thompson Sr., 76, passed away July 7, 2010 at his home, surrounded by his loving family and friends. He had been ill with cancer.

Mr. Thompson was born Aug. 21, 1933 at the Thompson home on Shenandoah Avenue in Edinburg. His parents were the late C.E. Thompson and Opal Helsley Thompson.

Mr. Thompson, president of C.E. Thompson and Sons Corporation in Edinburg, and Thompson Building Material, LLC, in Warrenton, graduated from Edinburg High School in 1953. Following high school, he served in the United States Navy for four years. He, his father and his brother, William (Billy) founded C.E. Thompson and Sons Corporation in 1958.

He was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Edinburg where he had served as chairman of the administrative board and the parsonage committee. He was past president and member of the Edinburg Lions Club, Shenandoah Homebuilders Association and Edinburg Madison District Memorial Park and Pool. He also was a member of the American Legion Post 199 in Woodstock.

Mr. Thompson had been a Cub Master of Cub Scout Pack 76 and assistant scoutmaster of Troop 54 in Edinburg.

He had served on the Shenandoah County Industrial Development Authority and the Triplett Technical and Business Institute Advisory Committee and had been a basketball coach for the Shenandoah County Department of Parks and Recreation when his three children played.

Mr. Thompson married the former Mary Lou Lineweaver of Star Tannery Oct. 16, 1954 in a beautiful candlelight service at St. James Lutheran Church in Star Tannery. She survives.

Other survivors include a son, John Harris Thompson Jr. and his wife, Barbara Short Thompson, and two daughters, Mary Beth Thompson Foltz and husband, Joe Foltz, and Ann Thompson Shirkey and husband, Stuart Shirkey, all of Edinburg; grandchildren, Shane Thompson, Heath Thompson, Johnathan Foltz, Ethan Thompson, Joseph Foltz, Chase Thompson, Claire Shirkey and Lillian Shirkey; niece, Sherrill Thompson Keller, and nephew, Billy M. Thompson, and their children; two special nieces, Donna Locklear and Karen Dellinger; other nieces and nephews; members of the Thompson and Lineweaver families, and numerous friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother William and his wife, the former Mary Lou Polk.

He enjoyed traveling, entertaining and taking care of his family, and he loved Edinburg and the surrounding communities.

Johnny was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, uncle and businessman and was affectionately known as "Dad John" by his darling grandchildren who adored him. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Pallbearers will be Shane Thompson, Heath Thompson, Johnathan Foltz, Ethan Thompson, Joseph Foltz, Chase Thompson, Joe Foltz, Stuart Shirkey, Neil Thompson and Billy M. Thompson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Wayne Short, Burdette Foltz, Henry Shirkey, Jack Heishman, Daryl Orndorff, Bill Holtzman, Rodney Crowder, Loy May, Keith Richards, Bill Ortts, Kelly Keller, Richard Murray, Keith Lantz, Gary Fletcher, Joan Holler and Jerry Turybury.

Employees of C.E. Thompson and Sons and members of the Edinburg Lions Club will attend in groups.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 310, Edinburg, Va. 22824 and the Edinburg Town Park, P.O. Box 85, Edinburg, Va. 22824.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 10 at 11 a.m. at St. John's United Methodist Church in Edinburg with the Rev. Steve McMillion and Pastor Philo Kent Bennett officiating. Burial, with military honors by US Navy and Strasburg American Legion Post #77, will follow in Cedarwood Cemetery. Family visitation will be held Friday, July 9, also at the church from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

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