Kenneth Alvin Thompson Jr.

He was a native of New Jersey.

Enlisting in the Naval Reserve while still in high school, he was called to active duty during the Korean War and served with Fighter Squadron VF-32 aboard the aircraft carriers USS Wasp and Tarawa.

He spent a total of 12 years in the Panama Canal Zone. As a teenager he attend one year of high school there. After Naval service, he again went to the Canal Zone and was employed with the Dept of Defense as an Ammunition Quality Assurance Inspector, inspecting and maintaining the munitions for the 75mm Sky Sweeper and Hawk missiles in storage and in the hands of the troops at their jungle gun sites.

He transferred to the Research & Development Center at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ. While there he traveled the globe, instructing US military forces in the use of newly developed weapon systems ammunition. Using his previous knowledge, he transferred to the Missile and Munitions Center and School at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville AL, as a training instructor. He retired as the Deputy Chief of the Nuclear Weapon Training Division with 40 years of service.

While working in the Canal Zone, he remained in the Naval Reserve serving with the 15th Naval District’s Harbor Defense Unit for several years, doing his 2 weeks of active duty at the Naval Air Station in Guantanamo, Cuba and flying with the District Admiral’s aircraft.

Upon leaving the Canal Zone, he was discharged and remained a civilian for 18 years. While in Huntsville, AL he decided to re-enlist in the Reserves. He performed duty at the Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, VA and flew as an Ordinance man in Navy P3 aircraft with Patrol Squadron VP-94 out of New Orleans, LA.

Mr. Thompson received the Navy Achievement Metal awarded him by the Secretary of the Navy in 1990 as Sailor Of The Year. He was also given the Korean War Veteran medal by the Veterans Affairs Minister, Republic of Korea. He retired from his Navy career in 1992 as a veteran with 22 years of dedicated service.

He was a 32nd degree Mason of Sojourners Lodge in the Canal Zone for 65 years, holding the office of Junior Warden. He was a Shriner and member of Abou Saad Temple in Panama serving as their Ceremonial Director and named Ambassador for North Carolina and Florida. He was a member of the American Legion and, for a time, a volunteer with the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office.

Mr. Thompson enjoyed the outdoors, engaging in hunting and fishing. While in the Canal Zone, he built fishing boats and raced hydroplanes at the Cristobal Yacht Club.

During his years working in the jungles of Panama, on 2 occasions he came face to face with black panthers and found an orphaned baby jaguar. He could tell tales of his many adventures with other creatures that inhabited sites near his jungle work place.

While living in Huntsville Alabama, he was an assistant Scout Master and assistant little league football coach. After retirement, when living in Connestee Falls, NC, he enjoyed playing golf. His biggest hobby was the genealogy of his family history. He acquired data spanning 14 generations with over 2,100 names in 718 families, some lines dating back to the mid-1400’s. He also liked to travel and had been to 6 of the 7 continents visiting 41 countries and all but 4 of the 50 states.

Mr. Thompson was married to the late Joan R. Thompson of Connestee Falls. He is survived by his daughters Inez L. Thompson of Jacksonville, FL and Diane M. Siprelle of St. Augustine, FL. His sons, James and Steven, preceded him in death, as did his parents and sister.

A graveside service with military honors and Masonic rites, will be held September 2, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Oaklawn Cemetery, 4801 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL. Visitation will be September 2, 2023 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children.