Orville Oehler Thompson Jr.

Orville Oehler Thompson Jr, 62, of Charlotte, died July 11, 2016. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, O. O. Thompson Sr. and Myrtle Powell; brother, John; nephew, Wayne Clark; niece, Erin McKinnon and his beloved dog, Saffron. O.O. was graduated from UNC Chapel Hill and received a Master's Degree from Appalachian State University. He returned home to work with his father at Thompson Antique Company, a Charlotte institution established by his grandfather in 1921. Later he and his wife, Jane McKinnon, began collaboration and exhibited at antique shows from New Hampshire to Florida.

O.O. was renowned for his tenacious pursuit of fine furniture and decorative objects with a strong emphasis on Americana, especially works produced in the South. He was a scholar of regional furniture and had a reputation for handling exceptional pieces, many of which are housed today in important private collections and museums. He possessed an extraordinarily keen eye and had an aptitude for recalling the slightest nuances of every piece. With a passion for "the chase", he was a fierce competitor in the public auction realm. It was well known adding his name to an item's provenance created lasting value. O. O. and Jane never considered their life-long business to be work--they were on an endless treasure hunt and every day was Christmas! Every object has a story and no one could tell it like O.O. Thompson.

O. O.'s passions went beyond the world of antiques. He loved vegetable gardening and received great joy giving away the fruits of his labor. He cherished spending time at Kiawah Island, where he was considered the unofficial "Mayor of Inlet Cove." His friends and neighbors will remember him tooling around the community in his golf cart with Saffron by his side.

He is survived by his wife, Jane; brothers Kirk (Julie) and Ted; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Joy Clark and Jerry McKinnon; nephews and nieces, Ellen and Seth Thompson, Carlton and Beth Clark, Allison Clark and son Michael of Maryland, Tom McKinnon, James McKinnon and Samantha Plue of New York City, Ryan and Talia Clark.

We express heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Stuart Salmon and "Nurse Patty" and all the caring staff who were with us on this long journey as well as his doctors and nurses at Levine Cancer Institute. A Celebration of Life for family and friends will be held at a later date.

We say goodbye to a truly unique and cherished man who will certainly leave a void in our lives.