Frederick Carl Thompson

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Frederick "Carl" Thompson of Taylorsville, Utah. Carl passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones at the age of 91 on May 13, 2023. Carl was married to his lifelong sweetheart, Shirley Rae Bolin, on September 27, 1951, a union that would last for 72 short years. They had three boys, Dennis, Scott, and Jeff, and one daughter, Jacque.

Carl led an amazing life and was loved deeply by family and friends. Carl was an extremely proud lifelong member of the Salt Lake City Fire Department where he worked for 31 years, achieving the rank of Captain before retiring in September, 1985, at the age of 54 . He considered firefighters from all walks of life as his second family and was always overjoyed when, during his extensive travels, he would run into a fellow firefighter that he had never met before, and would take the time to visit with him/her. Carl was always on the lookout for the firefighter insignia whether it be a patch on a shirt, a cap on someone's head, a license plate on a vehicle, or any other random way of spotting his compadres. He continued his close association with the firefighting community as an Associate Member of the Fireman's Relief Association up until his death.

Carl worked hard and played hard. Besides his full time work as a firefighter, Carl also spent 41 years in the Army Reserve branch of the military, enlisting on December 1, 1950, and receiving an Honorable Discharge at the rank of Master Sergeant on May 23, 1991 -- another milestone of which he was very proud.

If that wasn't enough, Carl spent most of his working career holding down third and fourth jobs as a part time truck driver and working for the Salt Lake City Hogle Zoo where he drove and maintained the children's train, a job that brought him much joy being around people, children in particular.

Carl loved people, traveling, eating, laughing, working, boating, talking, listening, joking, camping, etc... you name it Carl loved it. He was a man full of joy and happiness. Those around him benefited from his effervescent spirit and the full extent of his ear to ear grin and never-ending joke repertoire.

Viewing will be held for Carl on Thursday, May 18, 2023, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm and on Friday, May 19, 2023, from 10:00-11:00 am and will be immediately followed by his funeral services at 11:00 am at the Taylorsville Garden Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints located at 4252 South Bennion Road, Taylorsville, Utah. Interment will be immediately following the funeral services at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, Utah.

Carl was preceded in death by his father (Fred), mother (Arveda), and three brothers (Douglas, Spencer, Lawrence). He leaves behind his loving wife (Shirley) and four children, Dennis, Jacque Wilkinson (Ned), Scott (Debbie), Jeff (Laurie) and many, many, many adoring grandchildren, great-grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.

CARL WAS A TRULY UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL. HE WILL BE MISSED!!!