THOMPSON, Arnold C.

THOMPSON, CLEMMENS, OLSON, WHITEFORD, MILLIKAN, HILL, DECKER, REX, GILBERT, WILLIS, ANGLIN

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 4/30/2008 at 16:46:40

Cherokee Chronicle Times, Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Arnold C. Thompson, 74, of Cherokee, died Saturday April 12, 2008 at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee, following a brief illness.

Funeral services were held April 17, 2008 at the Greenwood Funeral Home in Cherokee. Pastor Gregg Johnson officiated. Burial was in the Meriden Cemetery in Meriden. Military graveside honors were conducted by V.F.W. L.A. Wescott Post # 2253.

Arnold was born on June 21, 1933 in Berea, Ky. to William Lee and Rosie May (Clemmens) Thompson. He attended school in Berea, Ky. at the Log Cabin Road School near Berea. He entered the United States Air Force, and served in Sioux City. While working in Sioux City, he met Idabell Olson and they were married Nov. 29, 1957 in Dakota City, Neb.

Arnold upholstered furniture and drove truck for a few years, before moving to Cherokee to work for the Cherokee Fire Department as a Fire Truck Driver and pump operator, a position he held from 1973-1986. He also worked part-time for the Cherokee Public School system as a bus driver.

Arnold also upholstered part-time and assisted in raising seven children. Arnold enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, woodworking, gardening, and tending to his dogs. He also enjoyed playing musical instruments and enjoyed entertaining the residents of area nursing homes.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Lori (1963), three brothers, Howard, Preston, and R.J. "Russell"; a sister, Ruby Thompson.

He is survived by his wife, Idabell; daughters, Elaine Whiteford and her husband, Geoff, of Moora, Australia; Tammy Millikan and her husband, Mark, of Meriden; Vicki Hill and her husband, Charles, of Meriden; Valerie Decker and her husband, Brian, of Cherokee; sons, Tim Thompson and his wife, Missy, of Cherokee; Randy Thompson and special friend Cindy Rex of Cherokee; Carl Thompson and his wife, Vickie, of Cherokee; Kenny Thompson and his wife, Vola, of Sand Gap, Ky.; 24 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sisters, Ruth Switzer and her husband, Victor, of Berea, Ky.; Shirley Gilbert and her husband, Grant, of Richmond, Ky.; Faye Willis and her husband, Charles, of Berea, Ky.; Brenda Anglin and her husband, Glendon, of Berea, Ky.; a brother, Edgar Thompson and his wife, Bea, of Remsey, Ind.. and a sister-in-law, Christine Thompson.