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William "Bill" H. Thompson
William "Bill" H. Thompson
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William "Bill" Thompson Obituary
Born on February 16, 1947 at the Brooklyn Naval Hospital, he was the son of Russell and Eleanor Thompson. Bill graduated from Hamden (CT) High School in 1965 where he received an excellent education and also 'never lost a fight' with his Irish twin brother and best friend, Tom. He went on to attend Syracuse University and was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War, as a helicopter pilot. Upon discharge he went on to attend UCONN School of Business, where he met his wife, Ann-Ewing Pratt and graduated in 1972. Bill & Ann moved to Hastings-on-Hudson, NY and were married in 1973. They moved to Virginia where they had two sons, Matthew Ewing and Bradford Smith, and soon returned to New England to raise their family in Bedford, NH and eventually retire.
Bill's charm was clearly rooted in his unfiltered humor and lightning quick wit.
In Bill's life nothing compared to the incredible joy he found in his two sons and their growing families. You would often hear him say, "Don't you think our grandchildren are the most beautiful & brilliant children you have ever seen!?" This was the true culmination of Bill's life and legacy.
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Ann-Ewing, of Bedford, NH; son, Matthew (Allyssa) Thompson, of Manchester, NH; son, Bradford (Meghan) Thompson, of Andover, MA; four wonderful grandchildren, Hayden, Maya, Flynn and Kensington Thompson. Bill is also survived by his brother, George "Tom" Thompson, of Essex, VT; his sister, Elisabeth (James) Oakes, of Edgartown, MA; his brother, John Thompson, of Cornwall, NY; and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023 between 12-3 PM at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford, NH.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bill's name to Breathe NH, 145 Hollis St., Unit C, Manchester, NH 03101 or online BreatheNH.org
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Rebecca Coughlin
January 28, 2023
I´m just learning about Bill´s passing. I knew him through bus duty at McKelvie. Whenever I would see him we´d have wonderful conversations about his family and mine. He is definitely missed. Sending condolences to your whole family.
Doris Burns
January 27, 2023
Ann, Matt, Brad and families,
So sorry we can´t be there tomorrow. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. Bill will be missed; he was a good man and friend.
Denise Roy
January 12, 2023
Ann, Matt, Brad,
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. He was truly one of the good ones. He will be missed.
Love, Denise Roy
Ellie & David Cochran
January 11, 2023
We were sorry to hear about Bill and we have great memories from when our boys played sports together. Bill´s sense of humor always had us laughing. Our thoughts are with you all as your celebrate a life well-lived
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Dorothy Krol
January 10, 2023
How sorry I was to hear of the loss of Bill. Every time I was on Bus duty at Peter Woodbury he would greet me by name. He was so friendly and engaging and I so enjoyed talking to him. My thoughts and prays are with his family. Dorothy Krol
Liz Mijal
January 10, 2023
Ohhh we are so very sorry for the loss of 'Bus Driver Bill' - he carried both our girls safely to and from for close to 10 years...he will always hold a special place in our hearts! Even if the girls weren't on the bus that day, he'd still smile and wave! He will be deeply missed...our sincere condolences to your entire family!
May he rest easy ~ The Mijal Family
The Ronan Family
January 10, 2023
First met the Thompson Family when ours sons began playing Bedford LL baseball, soccer & basketball together. It was always a great time to catch up with each other to discuss sports along with business/politics. When outside, he´d always give a wave as he drove by the house on his bus route or have a quick chat (grandchildren) at the grocery store when we would run into each other.
In our Thoughts and Prays.
Bill & Diane Ronan
Loren Foxx
January 9, 2023
Bill drove both of my girls to school from the time they were very little. I think all told we had around nine years with him. We could not have asked for a better bus driver who ultimately became a friend. We would see each other through the window and he would point at me; it was a greeting he and my daughter Maggie came up with and once Maggie was out of Peter Woodbury, I carried it on. If he saw us, he´d stop the bus to talk to us. He always made me feel like the most important guy on the planet when we talked. I´ll miss him a lot and didn´t know him like you all did, but you were so lucky to have a kind and gentle man like him in your lives and I´m so sorry for your loss. - The Foxx Family
Barbara Garry
January 8, 2023
Dear Ann, Matt and Brad, I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Bill. Keeping you all in my prayers.
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