Robert E. Thompson, 81, Clarksville, died Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at in Clarksville, TN. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Neal-Tarpley Chapel with Dr. Roger Freeman, Dr. John Laida, and Rev. Jimmy Terry officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service Saturday at the funeral home. Neal-Tarpley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. He was born September 3, 1927 in Southside, TN son of the late Paul Thompson and Lucy Harris Thompson. Mr. Thompson was County Executive of Montgomery County from 1993 to 1997. In 1994 Robert was elected to the office of County Executive for Montgomery County with a majority vote in all 21 Districts in a field of four candidates. While he was in office, he is best remembered for the County's purchase of the Veteran's Plaza and the placing of the greatly enlarged and beautiful Library in the Plaza's center. During the time he was County Executive, the County built seven schools. Prior to becoming County Executive, he was Director of Accounts and Budgets and Purchasing agent for Montgomery County, was co-owner of Merritt Building Material Company, and worked with J. Stephen Watkins Consulting Engineers, Lexington, KY. This firm designed and supervised the construction of Camp Campbell in 1942. He served in the United States Coast Guard operating under U.S. Navy Dept. during WWII. He received his BS degree in accounting from Austin Peay State University in 1952. He was a member of several organizations including the Clarksville Civitan Club where he served as President and was a fifty year member, member of the Board of Directors of the Clarksville Chamber of Commerce, the Armed Services YMCA, President of the Clarksville Credit Bureau 1970-71, the TN County Services Assn. Bond Pool, the TN County services Assn. Insurance Pool, the Montgomery County Industrial Board, the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing Org. since 1984, the Montgomery County Historical Society, and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity at University of TN Knoxville. Mr. Thompson was a member of First Baptist Church and was chairman of the Board of Deacons in 1965 and later Deacon Emeritus. He completed all levels of the University of TN Center for Government Training Courses and won the Preservationist of the Year Award by the State of TN 2004 Tn Historical Commission. His hobbies included duck hunting,and working in the genealogy archives at Clarksville Montgomery County Library. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Camp Thompson whom he married August 15, 1951 in Trenton, KY; three daughters, Deborah Hilaski (Richard), New Mexico; Beth Bruning (Tom), Franklin, TN; and Allison Clouser (Randy), Clarksville; a sister, Sue Krug (Phil), Chattanooga, TN; five grandchildren, Jessica Guzman, Jon Clouser, Robert Clouser, Will Bruning, and Allison Bruning; and one great-grandchild, Diego Guzman. Pallbearers will be Jon Clouser, Rob Clouser, Will Bruning, Chip Krug, David Harris, Herb Baggett, and Johnny Baggett. Honorary pallbearers will be Elwyn Patch, Joel Plummer, Bobby Welch, Joe Garrett, Harold Vann, James Eldon Thomas, Jimmy Holleman and Frank McGregor. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Public Library, Attn: Martha Hendricks, 350 Pageant Lane, Ste 501, Clarksville, TN 37040 or to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 409410, Atlanta, GA 30384-9410. Arrangements entrusted to Neal-Tarpley Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040. Online condolences can be made at www.neal-tarpley.com