Hershell Joel Thompson

Hershell was the third child of six born to parents Ivan Thompson and Lucille Thompson on June 17th, 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica. He spent his youth in Jamaica and joined the US military as a proud member of the Air Force in 1972. His career took him abroad to Germany, where in 1976 he met his soulmate Claudia Thompson (nee Disse). On January 25th, 1977 the pair were married and in September of the same year the couple welcomed their daughter Myriam. While Myriam was Hershell's sole biological child, he saw no difference between her and the three children Claudia had prior to meeting him and happily became a father of four. Hershell loved family life and was a wonderful, caring husband and father to his four children Myriam, Daniela, Michael, and Mark.

In 1992 Hershell retired from the Air Force with the rank of tech sergeant after 20 years of service as a pneudraulic systems technician, during which he was awarded various honors and medals including the Longevity Service Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, and the Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, among others. Despite retiring, he loved what he did so much that he went on to work for another 15 years at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Yermo California as a pipefitter.

Hershell Thompson was a kind, loving, intelligent, hardworking, devout, gentle giant of a man who has left behind a lasting legacy for his family. He was incredibly handy and creative, and was a talented artist and avid gardener. He loved to travel and learn about new places and things, and always instilled in his family the importance of a good education. Most of all he loved to gather and spend time with his family. He was a proud husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He is preceded in death by his wife Claudia, and his daughter Myriam; his siblings Pauline, Doreen, and Charles; and his parents, Ivan and Lucille. They are happily reunited in Heaven.

He is survived by his daughter, Daniela, and his grandchildren and great grandchildren who were the joys of his life:

-Granddaughter Makayla and her husband Dwight Brown, and their two children Dwight III and Damian

-Grandsons Zion and Elijah Mapu

-Granddaughter Sarah Read, and her two daughters Summit and Harlow

As well as his two surviving sisters Grace and June, and many cherished nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Rest in Peace Hershell, you will be dearly missed by all who knew you.

“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”-- Ecclesiastes 12:7