J. West Thompson, Jr.

Born in Centreville, MD on January 28, 1916, he was the son of the late, J. West and Nellye Seward Thompson. He graduated from Centreville High School in 1934 and attended Beacom College in Wilmington, DE. He then served three years with Company K of the Maryland National Guard. Mr. Thompson was employed by the C. T. Williams Co., investment bankers in Baltimore from January 1935 until August 1942 when he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. He was honorably discharged in 1945 in Philadelphia, PA a petty officer first class. Following his discharge he entered into business with his father, who operated Thompson’s Pharmacy in Centreville. Gov. Theodore R. McKelden appointed him trial magistrate for Queen Anne’s County in 1951. On June 15, 1960 he began employment with the MD State Dept. of Parole and Probation as a Parole Officer I. He was assigned to supervise parolees and probationers in Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline and Talbot counties. In 1971, he was promoted to Supervisor of the upper five counties of the Eastern Shore and held that position until his retirement from state service in 1978. He also served as Centreville Town Commissioner from April 1979 until January 1980, at which time he was appointed to the position of a part-time Court Commissioner for the District Court of MD. He resigned in 1982 to enjoy full time retirement Mr.Thompson was a dedicated volunteer with Centreville’s Goodwill Fire Co., which he joined in 1932 and served over the years as President, Vice president, Secretary, Chief, and a Director. He was chairman of the committee that brought the first ambulance service to Centerville in 1950. He headed the ambulance program until 1960. He is a past President of the Kent and Queen Anne’s Fire Association. In 2000 he was inducted into the Maryland State Fireman’s Association Hall of Fame. In 2008 MSFA President, Paul Sterling recognized Mr. Thompson at the Annual State Convention as being the oldest active firefighter in Maryland at age 92, with 76 years of fire service. In 1988 he was inducted into the Delmarva Volunteer Fireman Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Kent Island Yacht Club, a former charter member of the Centreville Lions Club, a life member of the Eastern Shore Police Association, the Queen Anne’s County Sportsman Club, American Legion, Jeff Davis Post #18, and the Centreville United Methodist Church He is survived by his wife, Katherine Anthony Thompson, whom he married on Aug. 24, 1949; one son, James West Thompson III. of Centreville; two daughters, Nancy A. Lewis of Greenbelt, MD and Sandra L. Metz of New Castle DE; four grandchildren; and seven great grandchild. Friends may call on Sunday, March 28, 2010 at the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., Centreville, MD from 4 – 8 PM. The family will receive fire service personnel from 7 – 8 PM. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 29, 2010 at 11:00 AM at the Centreville United Methodist Church with full Fire Department Honors. Internment will be in Chesterfield Cemetery, Centreville, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company, 212 Broadway, Centreville, MD 21617 or Centreville United Methodist Church, 608 Church Hill Road, Centreville, MD 21617 or Hospice of Queen Anne’s Inc., 255 Comet Drive, Centreville, MD 21617.

J. West Thompson, Jr.

January 28, 1916 - March 25, 2010