Obituary: Jack Conrad Thompson

Jack Conrad Thompson, age 85, of Clinton, passed away surrounded by his family, Monday, July 7, 2014, at the Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.

He was born August 15, 1928, in Murfreesboro, Tenn., the son of Grant and Willie Posey Thompson.

Mr. Thompson attended Tennessee Wesleyan College before entering the United States Air Force, where he served from 1950-1954. During that period, he served in London, England, where he met his future wife, Evelyne Lynn Berkoff. They married February 12, 1954, and returned to the U.S.

Mr. Thompson began working at Union Carbide Nuclear Corp in 1955. He retired from Union Carbide in 1975 and went to work for the Federal Highway Department in Sevierville, Tennessee. He and his wife were the owners of Dial-A-Maid of Anderson County.

Mr. Thompson was a long-time member of the Elks Lodge #1684. He and his wife enjoyed spending time and raising their children at their cabin on Douglas Lake. He enjoyed the outdoors, boating, and traveling, and especially enjoyed playing cards with his grandsons. He was also a UT Vols fan. In earlier years, he and his wife were members of the Rambling Rebels Square Dance Club.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by daughter, Sandra Craze; brother, Tommy Thompson; and cousin, Davey Whitmore.

He is survived by his wife, Lynn Thompson; daughters, Carol Rice and husband Steve of Clinton, and Laura Proffitt of Kingston; son-in-law, Rick Craze of Oak Ridge; sister, Charlotte Harding of Marietta, Ga.; suster-in-law, Stephanie Rose and husband John of London, England; grandchildren, Matthew, Adam, and Eric Rice, Grant and Tessa Proffitt, and Michael Craze (Shannon Curtis); great-grandson, Zachary Craze; nieces and nephews, Susan Craft and husband Steve of Marietta, Ga., John Harding of Hendersonville, Patti Huskey and husband Brent of Gatlinburg, Angie Jones and Greg Rose and wife Lena of London, England; and extended family Cindy Rice and Ben Rice-Hawkins of Jackson, Ohio, and many great nieces and great nephews.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 10, 2014, from 5–7 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary. Members of the Elks Lodge #1684 will present a service at 7 p.m., followed by the funeral service at 7:15 with David Wallace officiating. Family and friends will meet at 1 p.m. on Friday at Woodhaven Memorial Gardens for a graveside service. Honorary pallbearers will be Spud Chandler, Gene Hicks, Chuck Salley, Dow Burton, W.T. Northcutt and Glen Adkins. Military honors will be presented by the Air Force Honor Guard. The family asks that any memorials be given to the Muscular Dystrophy Association or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.