Mitchell Thompson

J. Mitchell “Mitch” Thompson was born in Dorchester County on January 18, 1926, the youngest of the seven children of George A. and Roxy Hackett Thompson. He died December 26, 2009 at the age of 83. He graduated from Hurlock High School in June of 1944 and served an enlistment in the U.S. Army Air Corp with service in Germany until 1946. On November 27, 1947, he married Florence V. Sparkman of Pascagoula, Mississippi. With the G.I. Bill and Florence, he worked his way through the University of Maryland, College of Agriculture, graduating in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy, and a Master of Science degree in 1960. He was manager of the University of Maryland Agronomy Research Farm until 1957. Mitch worked as a fertilizer salesman, first with the American Agricultural Chemical Company (Agrico), and retired from Willard AgriService in 1998. During his working years he was a member of the American Society of Agronomy and several state plant food associations. In 2005, Mitch was informally acknowledged as one of 25 “Ag Legends” of the 1970s and 80s in the Mid-Atlantic region. Every farmer’s green field and bumper crop on the Eastern Shore was a source of pride for him. He enjoyed traveling in the United States and abroad and working in his flower beds and vegetable garden, where he grew tomatoes worth eating. He also enjoyed good music, from bluegrass and classical to zydeco, rat-time and jazz, but not rock or rap. While living in Centreville, Mitch served as lector at Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church, held offices in Centreville High School PTA and was President of Conquest Beach Association. When he and Florence moved to Royal Oak he served as lector of St. Michaels Chapel for 25 years. For the past two years he was a communicant at Saints Peter and Paul in Easton. He had been a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1948. He and Florence have lived at Londonderry Retirement Community since 2008. Mitch was pre-deceased by sisters, Olivia, Virginia, Estelle and June, and by brothers, George and James. He is survived by Florence, his wife of 62 years; one son, John M. and his wife, Torie of Centreville and four daughters, Frances E. and her husband, Mike Keller, of Mayo, Ruth A. of Easton, Ellen L. and her husband, Charles Ruberry, of Baltimroe and Mary C. and her husband, John Bohlen of Salisbury; five grandchildren, Mary Anne Thompson, Carolyn Billings-Woodard, Theresa Pangelinan, Conor Thompson and Mary Claire Bohlen and six great granddaughters, Cierra Billings-Woodard, Savannah Woodard, Tyler Thompson, Jordan Thompson, Morgan (Lizzie) Thompson and Mackenzie Thompson. A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 31, 2009 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 3209 Church Lane, Cordova, MD. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., 200 South Harrison St., Easton, MD, from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 30, 2009. Memorial contributions may be made to your local hospice.

Mitchell Thompson

January 18, 1926 - December 26, 2009