Kenneth Thompson

Kenneth Thompson, age 81, died Friday, August 1, 2003 at Haywood Regional Medical Center.

He was a native of Wilmington, DE and the son of the late Paul and Else Zippe Thompson.

He retired from Champion International in 1987 with 28 years of service and was a United States Army Veteran of World War II. He was president of Lotus Horizons, Inc. He was a member of the American Paper Institute Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) and was "Man of the Year" for TAPPI in 1987. He presented numerous papers to the International Market on polymer coating and developed many patents in the polymer coating industry. He received an Engineering and Chemistry Degree from Penn State University. He was a member of the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild, Waste Reduction and Technology Transfer Program and was a master craftsman in silver, wood working, fine furniture working, metal and lapidary.

In addition to his wife of ten years, Nancy Jarrell Thompson of Canton, he is survived by a daughter, Lynne Thompson of New Harbor, ME; three sons, Ken Thompson, II of Charlottesville, VA, Greg Thompson and his wife, Katrina of Hope, ME, and Eric Thompson and Kristen of Crozet, VA; a step-daughter, Sharon Morgan of Waynesville; a step-son, Lawrence Jarrell of Asheville; a half sister, Betty Lou Lance of Ohio; a step-brother, Victor Yarnell of PA; nine grandchildren and one step-grandchild and one great-grandchild.

A celebration of Ken's life will be at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 5, 2003 at the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Home. Mr. Ron Leatherwood will provide the eulogy. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice, 560 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, NC 28721 or for those who prefer they may plant a shrub, bush or tree on their favorite hillside in Ken's memory.

Previous Events