Edward James Thompson

THOMPSON, Edward James, “Jim”, 68, of Brandon, passed away August 22, 2011, surrounded by his loving family at home. Born September 5, 1942, in Bradenton, Florida, the only child of James Thomas Thompson, Jr. and Bertie Stewart Thompson, he grew up in Bradenton and graduated from Manatee High School in 1960. Jim spent one and one-half years at Manatee Junior College before entering two years of active duty with the U.S. Navy, where he was operator of a ship’s store on the USS Intrepid (CVS-11) at Norfolk, Virginia. Returning to MJC in the fall of 1964, he was admitted to the Data Processing Technology program and graduated in 1966 with an Associate in Science Degree in Data Processing Technology. In 1971, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University. Jim was a computer programmer at Manatee County Schools and a Systems Analyst at Florida Atlantic University. He moved to Brandon in 1972 and worked for the Florida board of Regents (Standard Software Development Services, formerly known as UNIFTRAN) at University of South Florida for over 30 years as a Senior Computer Systems Coordinator developing Student Record systems. He retired from the State University System in 2002. He was predeceased by his mother and father. Jim is survived by his wife of 45 years, Cynthia Watts Thompson; daughters, Susan Thompson Scymanky and Michelle Thompson; granddaughters, Shelby and Jenna Scymanky; and son-in-law, Daniel Scymanky, all of Brandon. To honor his wishes, there will be no services. A mass in his memory will be held at a later date. Interment will take place at Mansion Memorial Park in Ellenton, Florida. Donations may be made in his memory to Mary help of Christians Catholic Church in Tampa or the American Cancer Society.