GEORGE E. THOMPSON JR.

ALEXANDER and SPRINGFIELD – George E. Thompson Jr., 80, died June 14, 2008, at the Maine Veterans’ Home, Bangor, after a brief battle with cancer. He was born Feb. 5, 1928, in Springfield, the son of the late George Sr. and Hazel (Lyons) Thompson. He left high school to fulfill his patriotic duty, enlisting in the Army Air Corps during World War II, serving as an aircraft mechanic and then returned home to marry Edwina (Lothrop) Thompson, his wife of more than 50 years. They then moved to Hartford, Conn., where George worked at Pratt & Whitney with the team that designed the first solar rocket cells. George was a farmer at heart, and in 1964 they returned home to the farm in Springfield to raise their family, where he also worked numerous jobs as a trucker and a logger before retiring. George was a man who appreciated the simple things in life: times with family, the outdoors, sharing stories with family and friends, attending church and the people at Wesley Community Church and Red Sox games. He was a kind man, who was slow to judge and quick to lend a helping hand. He is survived by his beloved wife, Edwina; three daughters, Sandra and her husband, Jeffery Smart, and their son, Andrew, and their grandson, Gaige, of Brownville; Carla and her husband, Timothy Jundt, and their daughters, Janelle and Lindsay of Alexander; Lorna Thompson and her husband, John Gresser, and daughter, Cassandra Worster of Springfield; several nieces and nephews; and sisters, Kay and Carol. The family wishes to thank the staff at Eastern Maine Medical Center and the Veterans Affairs home for their kindness and exceptional care during his final days. Friends may visit with the family 4-7 p.m. Monday, June 16, at Clay Funeral Home, 7 Lee Road, Lincoln. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, at Springfield Community Chapel, Park Street, Springfield, with Pastor Bruce Swan and Pastor Duane Waite officiating. Interment will be after at Village Cemetery, Springfield. Friends may gather at Springfield Community Chapel after the service. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make donations to his funeral fund, care of Clay Funeral Home, 7 Lee Road, Lincoln, ME 04457. For an online register book, please visit www.clayfuneralhome.com.