James E. Thompson

Jim was a sailing enthusiast, having learned to sail at Buckeye Lake Yacht Club with his two brothers as a teenager. His family owned a Lightning class boat and later a Highlander and his father was on the board of governors at the yacht club from 1961-1964. The Lightning Class was very active at this time, and Jim excelled at being on the 3 person crew, and he traveled to compete in various regattas throughout the Great Lakes. The president of the International Lightning Class Association in 1964, Jay Limbaugh, also sailed at BLYC and recruited Jim for his crew to race in Florida throughout Jim’s college years.

He received a degree in industrial technology from Ohio University in 1969 and two degrees in mechanical and fluid power engineering from Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1980. He held various engineering positions in Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin and retired to Waynesburg, PA in 2014 to live with his long term partner, Mary Davis. He enjoyed spending time with Mary’s family, especially three grandchildren that lived nearby - Jonathan, Damean, and Abigail. He returned to Medina, Ohio in 2022.

Jim was also an avid cook and taught his daughter many recipes and cooking techniques. He enjoyed crafting meals for others to enjoy, especially during holidays or when grilling outside in the summertime.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Chester O.D. “Chet” Thompson, Jr. and Justa “Jean” James Thompson. He is survived by his former wife Sandra Thompson of Heath, OH, and their daughter Stephanie Thompson of Brooklyn, NY. He is also survived by his older brother, Chester O.D. “Rick” Thompson III, his wife, Janice, of Port Charlotte, FL, and their two children and two grandchildren; as well as his younger brother, Gregory Thompson, his wife, Gail, of Delaware, OH, and their two children and six grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the staff at Parkside Villa and Continuum Care Hospice for their care and compassion during his final days. The Neptune Society also offered great help and support after his passing.

A memorial service will be held in the chapel at Coburn United Methodist Church, 3618 Maple Ave, Zanesville, OH on Saturday, August 26th at 2:00 pm, with a reception to follow. Attendees are encouraged to wear colorful attire to celebrate his life. His ashes will later be interred in Zanesville Memorial Cemetery near his parents and his grandparents, Hobart “Hobie” James and his wife Grace “Gracie”.

In lieu of flowers, the family is gathering donations to purchase a memorial brick at Buckeye Lake Yacht Club that benefits their youth sailing program. Checks can be mailed to Stephanie Thompson,1985 W Henderson Rd #62051 Columbus,OH 43220. Any funds received beyond the cost of the memorial brick will be donated to Cleveland Clinic for cancer research in his memory.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/cleveland-cremation for the Thompson family.