Kingston, NH: Joseph W. Thompson, 72, a resident of Kingston since 1982, died February 19, 2018 at Exeter Hospital.
Raised and educated in North Andover, son of the late John and Edith (Flint) Thompson, he graduated from North Andover High School and later attended the Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational and Technical School.
A U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, he served aboard the USS Shangri LA and was a recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Licensed as a Master Electrician since 1976, Mr. Thompson owned and operated Thompson Electric and also served as the Wiring and Electrical Inspector for the Town of Kingston since 1998. His professional associations included The State of New Hampshire Electricians Board as well as former member of the board of Massachusetts and Maine.
He was also active as the Chairman of the Kingston Days Celebrations for seventeen years beginning with the town's 300th Anniversary celebration and headed the committee for the annual car show associated with the town celebration.
A member of Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish, he was also a 3rd Degree member of Saint Jude Council of the Knights of Columbus. He was a well-known car enthusiast and member of the Tri-spokes Chapter of the Studebaker Driver's Club and a member and Vice President of the Olde Tyme Cruiser Auto Club. He also was a member of the Hudson-Essex Terraplane Club. Devoted to his dog Mallory, he also enjoyed camping.
Mr. Thompson will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife Robin (Rennick) (Verdillo) Thompson, a son Eric J. Thompson of Epping, a daughter and son-in-law Kelly A. and Jed Greeke of Dover, step-children, Frank A. Verdillo and his wife Betty Jean of Portsmouth, Elissa Verdillo-Funk and her husband Zach of California, and Michael Chambers and his wife Kathleen of Atkinson, grandchildren Patrick Thompson, Solstice Verdillo and Ominiara Funk, brothers, John Thompson and his wife Joan of North Andover, twin-brother James Thompson and his wife Vicki of California, and Michael Thompson and his wife Kate of Maryland, a sister Thelma Garry and her husband Peter of Virginia, and several nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Mr. Thompson's Life Celebration to be held on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow, NH. His funeral will begin on Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Mary, Mother of the Church of Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish, Newton. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Kingston. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to The Food Pantry of Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish, 8 Atkinson Depot Road, Plaistow, NH or to The Veterans North East Outreach Center, 10 Reed St. Haverhill, MA. To send a message of condolence to the family, please visit www.brooksidechapelfh.com