John Thompson

1922 - 2015

John Johnnie Wesley Thompson May 7, 1922 - April 23, 2015 - SAVANNAH - Truly a man of uncommon valor. As a teenager, Johnnie left his Georgia home to work with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Utah. At the age of 22, he served with the U. S. Marine Corps, Company A 10th Amphibian Tractor Battalion during WWII in the Pacific and in the Battle of Iwo Jima. He watched intently as the American flag was raised just above him and his fellow marines on the top of Mount Suribachi. Johnnie met his future bride, Doris, in Oceanside, California and they were married in January 1946. After returning to Savannah, Johnnie built their home on the marsh of the Wilmington River. During his construction career, his projects in Savannah and other cities included building certain schools and hotels and extensive restorations of banks, businesses and historic homes. He owned Thompson Construction Co. Perfection was his motto. He could work day and night and still make time for his favorite things, gardening, cooking outside, boating, fishing, crabbing, unique furniture building and taking his children and grandchildren boating and camping, just to name a few. He especially loved accompanying Renee, the apple of his eye, to father/daughter events during her high school years. Johnnie served as Worshipful Master of Ancient Landmark Lodge No. 231 F & A M and was a member of the Antique Car Club. Our Johnnie will be greatly missed by his loving family, his wife of 69 years, Doris Ahern Thompson, children and grandchildren, Diane Robbins, Terry & Janet Thompson, Jan & Larry Dillon, Renee & Buddy Griner, Jake Griner, Josh Griner, Jesse Griner, Joseph Thompson, Andy Thompson, Jeremy & Kelly Thompson, Luke and Logan Thompson, Christian Dillon, Erin Dillon, Chan Dillon, Yvonne Zakrzewski, Adelaide Zakrzewski, and niece, Judy Thompson Helton (Hugh). Johnnie was predeceased by his precious mother, Molly Reese Thompson, siblings, Maude Rachels, Norton Thompson, Agnes Chambers, son, Alan David Thompson, grandson, Brian Thompson, nephews, Jimmy Thompson and Gary Chambers. The family cannot begin to express our most sincere appreciation for his doctors, nurses and caregivers with whom he shared mutual respect and high regard: Dr. Mark E. Murphy, Dr. Mark Taylor, Dr. David Oliver, Dr. James Beisel, Carrie Scruggs, Dr. Samuel Torres, Hospice of Savannah staff, and the finest of finest, Emma Bowling, Liz Maher and Jeff Hartman. We will honor Johnnie's life during visitation at 1:00 p.m. and funeral service at 2:00 p.m. at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Islands Chapel on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, followed by burial, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Masonic section. Please sign our online guestbook at www.foxandweeks.com Savannah Morning News April 27, 2015 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries.