Henry Loyd "Hank" Thompson Obituary (1924 - 2016)

Henry Loyd "Hank" Thompson, age 92, of Harborcreek Twp, passed away Monday, October 10, 2016 at UPMC Hamot. He was born on September 26, 1924, in Ripley, NY, a son of the late James Clinton and Edith E. Thompson. During WWII, Henry served in the U.S. Army as a Private 1st Class in the 2nd Battalion 261st Infantry Regiment where he was a truck driver. He was stationed in the Rhineland, where he was wounded in action. Henry was the recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. After returning from the service, he married his first wife, Alice Seely. Together, they had five sons, Henry, Jr., David, Mark, Daryl and infant son, Timothy. Henry was self-employed for many years as a welder. He often had numerous large vehicles which he repaired. Henry had worked at American Sterilizer. Following that, he was a supervisor at Hammermill Paper Co (I.P.) until his retirement. As an avid bowler, Henry could often be found with Alice at Eastway Lanes, where he would regularly bowl with his brothers. A sociable person, Henry belonged to the American Legion Carl Neff Post 571 in Wesleyville as well as the East Erie Moose Club. There, he could be seen in the company of his second wife, Janet, as well as friends and family. As a resident of Harborcreek for many years, Henry seemed to always find someone he knew wherever he went. Henry was a Mason with the Perry-Keystone Lodge #392 F. & A.M. where he had been a chaplain for a number of years. He was also a member of Scottish Rite Valley of Erie. In later years, Henry went with his close friend, Charlotte Sexton, to the JFK Center. Playing cards was one of his favorite activities, and he could often be found with Charlotte and his nephew and wife, Elmer and Vickie Morrison, playing pinochle. In addition to his parents, Henry was preceded in death by two wives, Alice (Seely) and Janet (Menzi) Thompson, as well as his brothers, Gordon, William "Bill", and Lawrence "Larry" Thompson. He is survived by four sons, Henry L. Thompson, Jr. of Molino, FL, David Thompson (Debbie), Mark Thompson (Patty) and Daryl Thompson, with whom he resided, all of Erie. He also leaves behind eight grandchildren, Henry III, John, Rainey, and John Thompson of FL, Jamie Goldstrohm of Sagamore, PA , Mark Thompson of North East and Tim Thompson of Erie and Tracie Perrine of Erie, as well as numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, stepchildren, and nieces and nephews. Friends may call at the Dusckas-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 5151 Buffalo Road (at Hannon Rd. in Harborcreek Twp.), on Thursday from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm and are invited to attend a Funeral Service there on Friday at 10:30 am conducted by Pastor David Roach. Military honors will follow conducted by the American Legion Carl Neff Post 571. Private interment, Erie County Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be designated to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, or Erie City Mission, 1017 French Street, Erie, PA 16512.