Winchendon- Earl Wayne Thompson, 86, died peacefully Saturday July 8, 2023 at Leominster Hospital with his family by his side. Earl was born in Athol to the late Robert W. Thompson Sr. and Lillian (Paul) Thompson, the 5th of 14 children. Earl leaves his children Chester and Kim Thompson of Athol, Sharon and Steven Wright of Athol, Sandra Kuehl of Templeton, Ronald and Kim Thompson of Royalston, and Carol and Peter Arsenault of Winchendon, his brothers Clifford Thompson of Winchendon, George and his wife Georgia Thompson of Winchendon, Robert Thompson Jr. of Winchendon, and Larry Thompson of Virginia, 15 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 1 great- great- grandchild.
He was predeceased by his wife Beverly (Dickerman) Thompson, and his siblings – Kenny Thompson of Oregon, Phylis Golthwaith of Athol, Howard Thompson of California, Leslie Thompson of Florida, Arthur Thompson of South Carolina, Rita Maclenathon of Orange, Martha Sweeney of Indiana, Alice Tessier of Nevada, and Jimmy Thompson of New York.
Earl was a Veteran of the US Navy, serving as an airplane mechanic. Earl worked many jobs over the years, including employment as an armored car driver for Berkshire Armored Car in West Springfield, and as a machinist at Insco in Groton. Earl enjoyed working as an over the road truck driver, traveling all over the country. Earl retired in 1997. For many years Earl was a member of Groton Baptist Church and recently attended Chair City Church in Gardner. Earl enjoyed spending time with family and his daughter’s dogs. Earl loved long car rides which always included a donut, an ice cream or a local Diner. Family members enjoy remembering how much he loved a banana split from Kimball’s Ice Cream or the large vanilla soft serve ice cream cones from Kays Dairy Bar – the cones were often as big as his grandchildren, and he would finish them before they even had a chance to melt! He was a proud man, but he was also a very generous man. Earl was always willing to drop everything to help others. During his long drives he often came across bargains that he would pick up and bring home to his family, often thinking about things they could use or enjoy. He spent most of his time visiting with his family and friends playing cards, watching Westerns or working alongside them.
Services to be held Friday July 21, 2023 at 10:30AM at Chair City Church, 112 Central Street, Gardner MA. Refreshments to follow. Family will then proceed to the Mass Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon for a 1:00 PM Service.