Noel James Thompson

Noel James Thompson was born on April 3, 1925 in Madison, Wisconsin to Noel F. & Grace V. Bitterman Thompson. He died on June 11, 2006 at Meadow Park Nursing home at the age of 81. After graduation from Madison West High school in 1943 he entered the US Army for WWII military service. He was a part of the Battle of the Bulge while serviing with the 12th Armored Division. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in January of 1951. His career included work at WHA Broadcasting, Collins Radio, The Department of Geophysics at the University of Wisconsin, and the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics from which he retired in 1980. His time at WHA broadcasting developed also into a love and skill with pipe organs. In later years, he built and enjoyed playing the pipe organ he had in his home. One of his longlife interests was amateur radio. While in Hawaii he helped build mountain-top radio links connecting the islands and was part of the Civil Defense team. His interests in retirement included HAM radio, railroad steam engines, electric trolley cars and model railroads. He built a garden railway at their home. Toward the end of his career he had changed his focus from electronics to computers. As a volunteer with McNulty Water Association, he monitored wells and kepts logs of well depth correlations with rainfall and long term usage. Computers also were at the heart of his interest in genealogical research, both for his own family and for countless others here and in Salt Lake. After participating in the Web Development Team at Columbia Learning Center, he continued to volunteer many hours. Thompson and his wife managed the records and maintenance of Bayview Cemetery for many years. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he served a senior mission with Barbara in 1987. He was also a member of Post 1440 Veteran of Foreign Wars, the St. Helens Elks Lodge 1999 where he was the organist for many years, the Columbia Amateur Radio Association, ARES, RACES, and life member of the American Amateur Radio League. These also led to his participation in the CEPA emergency planning group in St. Helens. In 1948 he married Elaine Teisberg. They had four daughters. On May 25, 1970 he married Barbara Bennett Griffin. The couple spent the first 10 years of thier marriage in Hawaii, as he completed his career at the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics. They planned thier retirement while he designed and planned to build thier home. In 1980 they moved to Warren and built thier home on the Bennett family farm. Thompson is survived by Barbara, his loving wife and campanion for 36 years; daughters Eleanor Anderson of Sheboygan, Wis.; Alice Thompson-Williams of Plymouth, Minn.; Margaret Angell of Worley, Idaho, Sharon Phillips of Lakie-in-the-Hills, Ill. stepchildren, Phyllis Rice of Scappoose; Mark Griffin of Warren, and Martha Shields of St. Helens. He is also survived by two sisters, Ellen Champion Laiza of Niwot, Colo.; and Elizabeth Davey of Ralieigh, NC., and 13 grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren. Viewing on Wednesday evening at Columbia Funeral Home and at the church at 10:00 AM on Thursday. Funeral service: Thursday, June 15, 2006 at 11:00 AM at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Sykes Rd. in St. Helens. Dedication of the grave & vault interment to follow at Bayview Cemetery on Old Portland Rd. in Warren. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Columbia Funeral Home-Directors

Noel James Thompson

April 3, 1925 - June 11, 2006