Rt. Rev. John Lester Thompson III

Bishop Thompson died at home in Medford, Ore., on May 2, 2004.

A native of Youngstown, Ohio, he enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, first as a Seebee and then as a member of an Underwater Demolition Team.

Inspired by the Navy chaplains he met while in the service, he entered the Episcopal ministry, married Shirley Scott and was sent to his first assignment at St. Mark’s in Toledo, Ohio. Later, Bishop Thompson was rector at Trinity Church in Ashland. He then came to Christ Church in Eureka, where he served as rector from 1960 to 1978. In 1978, he was named Bishop of the Diocese of Northern California and served until 1991, when he retired to Medford, Ore.

Bishop Thompson was a Rotarian and served as President of the Ashland Shakespeare Festival while he was at Trinity Church. He was an avid fisherman, fishing many of the rivers and lakes in Southern Oregon and Northern California.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Thompson of Medford, Ore.; brother, Richard of Colorado Springs, Colo.; daughter, Amanda of Medford, Ore.; son, Ian of Vacaville; daughter-in-law, Dana and grandson David, also of Vacaville.

Memorial Services are being held simultaneously at Christ Church, 15th and H streets, Eureka, and at Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento, at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 16, 2004.

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