Arthur Robert THOMPSON

July 29, 1921 - November 25, 2017

It is with heavy hearts that we wish to announce the passing of our Husband, Dad, Grandpa and Great Grandpa.

He will be missed with tears and laughter for a very long time by all who knew him. 

He leaves to mourn him, his wife, Joan and his children; Bev (Fred), Pat (Roy), Kevin (Lorie), John (France), Marina (Dave) and Todd (Kathy).

Art was predeceased by his son Frank and his sister Luella Eckert and is survived by 13 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren along with all his brothers and sisters in the Craft.  He will also be sadly missed but lovingly remembered by hundreds of school children who rode his school bus.  We will all be forever grateful for the good memories Art left with us.

Art was a man who wore many hats. 

At the early age of 15 he laboured at McLean's Mill pulling lumber on the green chain.  He broke his wrist while loading a logging car on the train which brought his mill work to a halt, but he soon found work when the carnival came to town, working at the setting up and tearing down of the "big top" tent.  He moved on up the ranks of the carnival very quickly, becoming a "barker" and finally to the thrill of riding the "straight walls of death" on a motorcycle in the motordrome.  He met and married Isobel McDonald during that time but his marriage ended in tragedy when his wife died giving birth to their baby daughter, Beverley. 

Art worked locally at Sproat Lake Division of M&B (when it was Bloedel, Stewart and Welsh) operating a power shovel - then was transferred to Franklin River where he found himself operating a speeder which took fallers into the woods to work or families into town for shopping trips or appointments.  It was in Franklin River that Art met and married his second wife, Lillian.

The second World War broke out and Art tried to enlist but was refused admission on a category E.  Being the man he was, he immediately signed up with the B.C. Provincial Police force and was accepted.  He laughingly talked about being a civilian one day and the next he was walking down the street in a full uniform of "boots and breeks" with a gun attached to his hip.  His first posting took him to Squamish which was really the beginning of his education.  Point Gray detachment was his next posting and his education continued.

Within five years he found himself needed back on the family farm here in Port Alberni so he moved back but found that there wasn't a lot of farming in the beginning.  It was a case of survival, so it was back to the work force.  He started driving school bus and loved the job, loved the kids and loved the camaraderie of his co-workers and so remained there for approximately 34 years.  He worked long hard hours stretching himself thin between the driving and the farm.  During this time he saw a small ad in a Vancouver paper about Wood lots.  He dedicated part of his acreage to growing trees forever and thus became a wood lot owner.

His second marriage ended and soon thereafter he met and married Joan.  Part of that package were four young children which he gathered in and treated like his own.  Todd came along a year later to make the circle complete.  We now had "his", "hers" and "ours", a happy combination. 

When Art's school bus driving days were over he was approached to become a Driver Trainer at North Island College.  Many of his trucking students had been passengers on his school bus.  He diversified after a few years and became a Real Estate Salesman.  He loved the challenge of fitting people into just the right property. 

Art belonged to many organizations, but his pride was with Euclid Masonic Lodge #158 where he was a dedicated member for over 70 years and achieved the highest rank possible in the Craft.

The Boy Scouts will remember him in his early days with memories of mountain hikes and excursions; Fall Fair parades in uniform and search parties through the woods.

He was involved in 4-H for many years as a leader and advisor.  He believed that every kid should have a chance to be a 4-H member whether or not they lived in the country or the city.

Art was a Toastmaster and enjoyed the challenge of public speaking. 

He was an active member of the Farmer's Institute and was awarded a life time membership.  As self-deprecating as he was about his farming experience, his opinion was still respected and sought after.

Art loved to travel, and hike, and tell jokes and dancing was his passion.

As he wished, there will be no service to mourn his passing.  He preferred to celebrate life while he was alive.  He was a very humble man and did not want a fuss but the family is planning a Celebration of Life in his memory for a later date this Summer.

Flowers, as beautiful as they are, are gratefully declined.  Art was a volunteer driver for the Freemason Cancer Car Programme and cared deeply for that cause.  If you so wish to make a contribution to them or to the charity of your choice, we thank you.

Freemason Cancer Car Programme, P.O. Box 511, Qualicum Beach, B. C.  V9K 1T1

Art lived respected and died regretted.

Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part, Happy to Meet Again.