10/16/2006

Notification of Death - Clyde E. Thompson

October 13, 2006

OFDA received word this afternoon that Clyde E. Thompson, 89, a longtime businessman and community leader, died Friday, October 13, 2006, at Genesis Good Samaritan Hospital in Zanesville.

He owned and operated Clyde E. Thompson Funeral Home in Duncan Falls from 1945 to 1985. During much of that time, from 1945 to 1971, he provided ambulance service to the people of Muskingum County. Clyde also owned and operated Clyde E. Thompson Furniture Store/Thompson Furniture Village in Duncan Falls from 1946 to 1994.

He was a member of the Franklin Local School District Board from 1971 to 1977. He also served on the board, and as president of the board of the Muskingum County chapter of the American Cancer Society. He also is a former member of the board of Muskingum County's chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Clyde was the last remaining charter member of the Duncan Falls-Philo Lions Club, which he helped form on Aug. 1, 1953. A member for 53 years, he served as the local Lions Club president in 1963-64. In 2001, he received Lions Club International's highest honor, the Melvin Jones Fellowship, given to recognize individuals with a commitment to humanitarian service. The names of the winners of this award are entered in a computer database viewed by visitors at Lions Club International Headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois.

In addition to his work in the community, Clyde also was active throughout his long career in statewide and national professional organizations. He was president of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association in 1966-67. Before that, he served as president of the Muskingum County Funeral Directors Association and the district Funeral Directors Association. In the 1970s, he was a member of the Committee of 100 for the National Retail Furniture Association.

Although he took his work and community involvement seriously, Clyde was known as a man who enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest. He loved to tease, spin yarns and pull a trick or two on friends and family. Always young at heart, he looked forward to each day - and the fun it would bring. He loved to talk, reminisce and spend time with his family and a multitude of longtime friends.

Clyde was born April 15, 1917, near Adamsville, to the late Roy and Mary E. Snoots Thompson. His mother passed away when he was 6 years old. Her death had a profound effect on him - and on his older brother, Paul. At an early age, Clyde decided to become a funeral director and his brother chose the ministry.

He is survived by his wife, the former Charlotte Brandenburg, whom he married Feb. 6, 1974; two daughters and sons-in-law, Paula (Joseph) Foster and Deanna Thompson (Taft Wireback); five grandchildren, Kendall and Andrew (Drew) Foster and Travis, Nathaniel and Eliza Wireback; also two stepdaughters and their husbands, DuAnne (Steve) Farus and Denise (Jeff) Cunningham; six step grandchildren and 11 step great-grandchildren.

Clyde was preceded in death by his brother, Paul; his half sister, Christine Thompson Morrison; and a daughter, Ann Cheryl.

Thompson-Farus Funeral Home, 383 Main Street, Duncan Falls, handled the arrangements where burial followed in Duncan Falls Cemetery.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Duncan Falls-Philo Lions Club's Dick Bryan Diabetes Research Fund, P.O. Box 337, Duncan Falls, Ohio 43734.

To send condolences online: www.thompsonfarusfuneralhome.com.