Noah Thompson

Noah Thompson

Age: 97 • Essex

Noah Thompson, 97, of Essex, died peacefully March 4, 2016 at The Residence at Shelburne Bay. Noah was born in Burlington, August 19, 1918, son of M. Elbridge and Elsie Leach Thompson. He attended the schools of Colchester, Essex Jct. High School and the University of Vermont where he earned degrees-- a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Master of Extension Education.

He served in the military in World War II, enlisting in the Aviation Cadet Program and graduated a Second Lieutenant and rated pilot in May 1944. He was then trained, given a crew, and assigned as a B-17 bomber pilot to the 388th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force in England flying 21 combat missions over Germany. In August, 1944, Noah met his future wife during a train ride between Kansas City and Chicago. After the war's end, Noah and Betty Hatch were married on October 22, 1945 in Independence, Missouri. They lived in Napa, California near Noah's military base and he was assigned to the Military Air Transport Service where he was a C-54 pilot and made many trans-Pacific flights to destinations such as Guam, Manila, Tokyo and Shanghai. In July, 1948, he was transferred to Frankfurt, Germany, to participate in the Berlin Airlift, making 184 flights into Berlin carrying coal and other supplies into the blockaded city helping to save the German people. March, 1949, he returned to his home base in California. In January, 1950, Noah received his discharge from active duty and returned to Vermont. That summer they purchased a farm in Essex with a herd of Registered Jerseys. In 1963, Noah joined the staff of the UVM Extension Service. He first served as a Civil Defense Specialist and transferred to Extension's Community and Rural Development Department serving there until he retired, a professor emeritus, in 1984. For many years, the Thompson's divided their time between Essex and their winter home in Green Valley, Arizona. Betty passed away September, 2004.

Noah was a longtime member of the Essex United Methodist Church, served a two-year term as President of the Chittenden County Farm Bureau, and was a Director of the former Milton Cooperative Creamery. He was elected to 5 three-year terms on the Essex Town School Board and was a member of the Essex Town Planning Commission for 24 years, 14 as chairman. Upon retirement from the Commission, Thompson Drive in Essex was named in his honor. He was a member of the Green Valley Elks Lodge, the Aero Club of Arizona, the American Legion, the 388th Bomb Group Association, the 8th Air Force Historical Society, and the Berlin Airlift Veterans Association. He held a Civilian Airline Pilot's Rating and wrote and published a book, "A Pilot's Story," detailing his military flying experiences.

Noah is survived by his sons Glenn Thompson, wife Louise; Dale Thompson, wife Mary; grandsons Eric (Larissa), Avery, Cedric and great granddaughter Zoe, also several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Betty, a son Alan, brothers Lawrence and Roland Thompson and a sister Roberta Bonnette.

The family wishes to thank the entire staff at Shelburne Bay and the VNA Hospice for the great care given to Noah. Visiting hours will be Friday, March 11, 2016, from 4-7 pm at the Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home, 9 Pleasant Street, Essex Jct., VT. A memorial service will be held at the Essex Center United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 12, 2016, at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the VNA Hospice, 1110 Prim Road, Colchester, VT 05446.

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