George Oliver Thompson II was born on July 1, 1949, in Nashville, Tennessee, to the late George Oliver and Ruth Thompson, Sr. While still a young boy George and his family moved to Lansing, Michigan. George secured a job as a newspaper delivery boy during his youth. Determined to pay for his college tuition, he rose through the ranks of the local newspaper throughout high school to lead the newspaper delivery department. George attended Michigan State University obtaining his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and was soon recruited by Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, New York.
In 1991 George moved to Memphis, Tennessee, to work for Cummins Engine, Inc. He later landed a position as General Manager for Gateway Computers, Inc. in Sioux City, South Dakota, then relocated to the Gateway plant in Hampton, Virginia, in 1998. From there George became Vice President of Manufacturing for Systems and Service International in Boston, Massachusetts, before retiring back to Hampton Roads, Virginia.
George was 71 years old and passed away on Saturday, May 21, 2022, after a long battle with dementia. George was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and George Oliver Thompson, Sr.; brothers-in-law, Robert Tiggs and Donald Korte; sisters-in-law, Malinda Washington and Ann J. Jones; and mother-in-law, Josie L. Lewis.
Left behind to cherish his memory is his wife of 31 years, Alfreda L. Thompson, and their daughter, Amanda L. Thompson; former wife, Patricia Shurn-Thompson and their children, Nicole Thompson-Williams of Rochester, New York, and Kendall Thompson (Kate) of Dexter, Michigan; former wife, Cheryl Thompson and their son, George Thompson III of Rochester, New York; three grandchildren, Zadie and Kieran Thompson, and George Thompson IV; sisters, Celest Yvonne Thompson-Korte and Fay Thompson-Thomas (Tracy), both of Lansing, Michigan; brother, Carl Byron Thompson (Trelis) of Memphis, Tennessee; sisters-in-law, Mildred Jackson of Ellenton, Florida and Dorothy Wright of Conyers, Georgia; best friends, Eldred Majors (Laurie) of Rochester, New York and Alfred Gardner (Miriam) of Newport News, Virginia; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
George was a member of the Hampton Roads Church of Christ, Peninsula Region, in Newport News, Virginia, led by Minister Corey Stuck (Angela). The family would like to thank Ed Anton (Deb), Lead Evangelist of the Hampton Roads Church, and our brothers in Christ who studied the Bible with George (you know who you are). George became a disciple of Christ on January 13, 2013 (his daughter Nicole’s birthday).
One thing about George is that he loved to dance. His favorite dance (and song) was the Electric Slide. Every time any version of the song came on you would find George in the middle of the dance floor, happily leading the dance troupe. Actually, it wasn’t until our time in Boston, Massachusetts, that I realized just how good of a dancer he was. You see, George had an innate hatred of snakes. He couldn’t stand them; not pictures of them, not television programs about them, and he definitely did not appreciate them up close and personal. One day as he was trimming the hedges in our front yard, the head of a snake popped out from in between the bushes, which caught George off guard. In his fright, he shouted and then began doing the Moon Walk! Yep, sliding ever so smoothly backwards (and rather quickly) with the electric hedge clippers still running!!
Needless to say, it took George a bit of time to go back into the yard. He did love to keep busy doing yard work though. He really enjoyed his riding lawnmower. However, just when he thought it was safe, guess what? Along comes another snake slithering across the yard directly at George! He spotted the snake out of the corner of his eye which crawled directly under the mower blades. As I just happened to look out the window, I saw George still on the mower with his legs hoisted up in the air while still driving the mower!! Never knew the brother was so agile! That was it; yard work was done for the day and the lawnmower stayed in the middle of the yard for a while. That George!
George also loved to play and watch golf, loved action movies and comedic movies and he was an avid news junkie. When he wasn’t watching golf on tv you could guarantee he was watching MSNBC or CNN. He also loved origami and model airplanes. His favorite hymn was “Old Happy Day”.
The family would also like to send a special thank you to Dr. Javier Amadeo (Maritza) of Yorktown, Virginia, our brother in Christ, for all of his efforts in assisting the family in seeking medical care for George at the beginning of this most challenging year. His medical expertise, spiritual guidance, friendship, and love has been invaluable and are greatly appreciated.
To the Hampton Roads Church SAGE Women’s Group, Peninsula Region, led by Miriam-Diaz Gardner, the family extends its sincere gratitude for the many phone calls, text messages, cards, and words of encouragement received during this difficult time. Each and every member of this distinguished group has a deep-rooted love, adoration, and reverence for God and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, which shines brightly for all to see. We love you.
To our Hampton Roads Church family, thank you so very much for your prayers, cards, flowers, text messages, phone calls, and words of encouragement that only true followers of Christ can extend to the deepest parts of our souls. Thank you for lifting us up throughout George’s illness and especially now during our time of mourning. We love you deeply.
Last but not least, the family would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to the management team and my colleagues of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Development Division, for the flowers, text messages, emails, cards, and phone calls during our time of bereavement. It means so very much to have an extended family such as this. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you all are stewards of greatness.
At the request of the family, there will be no funeral service. A memorial obituary will be compiled and sent to family members and friends electronically.
Professional services entrusted to the staff of Whiting’s Funeral Home, 7005 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, Virginiak 23185 757-229-3011 whitingsfuneralhome.com
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