Albert Dean Thompson

Albert Dean Thompson, 84, of North Kingsville, passed away unexpectedly on February 13, 2024 at Banner Health Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ. while traveling with his sister to visit his dearest friend and travel companion, Sally Prentiss in Tucson.   

Dean was born at home on July 8, 1939 in Girard, PA, the second of six children of Charles and Arlene (Greenwood) Thompson.

Dean was an outstanding student and avid reader in his youth, played French horn in the Rowe HS band, and was a delegate to Ohio’s Boy’s State.  He was a member of the National Honor Society and placed as “Honorable Mention “ in the National Merit Scholar program, paving the way towards a full work/study scholarship from General Electric Co.  to Union College in Schenectady, New York where he earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1962.  

In 1963 he began his life-time career as an engineer in the US Space Program.  He worked for North American Rockwell, Martin Marietta, and finally Lockheed-Martin. He was present for and contributed his “small part” to the launch of NASA Missions spanning from the last Mercury Atlas-9 in 1963 through the Gemini, Apollo, and Saturn programs until the first Space Shuttle in 1981.  From there, he worked as a launch engineer for the Titan Missile program at Vandenberg Air Force Base for over 20 years.  His nearly 50-year career took him to live in Cape Kennedy, Florida; Downey, California; Denver, Colorado; Houston, Texas and Lompoc, California.    

He was a regular hiker on the hills and beaches of the California Central Coast and a member of the Sierra Club in Colorado and California as well as local hiking groups in his area.  It was there that he met his wife, Marion Leas.  They married in 1975 and together they thoroughly enjoyed life in California, hiking with their beloved dogs, and traveling frequently until her death in 1999. 

Several years later he met Sally Prentiss who became his beloved companion and travel partner.  They visited places all over the United States, Europe, and Asia on tours and cruises with often two or three trips per year. He even took his sisters and brother-in-law on an unforgettable two-week cruise in 2017 of the upper East Coast from Boston, to Nova Scotia, and Montreal and back. 

Having been nearly blind in one eye all of his life, he was a very active member of Lion’s Club for over 40 years in Lompoc, California and joined the Conneaut chapter after returning to Ohio.  He was devoted to helping children receive needed eye care.  He enjoyed books, movies, symphonic concerts, plays and musicals.  He loved spending time with his family, especially his several nieces and nephews and their children, as well as Sally’s grandchildren.  He liked to camp, and he and Sally took her grandchildren camping in the California forests on several occasions.

He was generous with all he had. His cottage in Conneaut was open to all family members as needed when he wasn’t visiting, which he did twice a year. He loved going to the annual Rowe Class of 1957 picnics and tried to attend all annual Thompson reunions as well.  He assisted his sisters when he could, including paying the tuition for Linda’s nursing training in 1966. 

In 2020, he had a sudden onset of heart issues, and by late 2021 was obliged to leave California where he lived alone and move to North Kingsville, Ohio where he made his home with his sister.  He enjoyed 2 ½ years living among friends and family, frequently attending local events, church, eating out and having a social life which he had been missing. 

Left to mourn his death are his sister Linda Thompson of North Kingsville; sister-in-law Judy Thompson, brother-in-law William Carlson, sister-in-law Mary Lee Coxon, 15 nieces and nephews, 37 great nieces and nephews, and 12 great, great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Marion (Leas) Thompson, sisters Vonna Carlson and Shirley Reinke, and brothers Leslie and Ronny Thompson, brother-in-law, Charles Reinke, nephew Burt Carlson, and great nephew, Tyler Aiken.

Funeral Service will be held on Saturday morning, April 20, 2024, at Marcy Funeral Home in Conneaut at 10:00 a.m. with an hour of visitation preceding the service and commitment of ashes to follow at Springfield Cemetery, Rt. #215, Springfield, Pennsylvania.  Rev. Russ Ham, New Leaf United Methodist Church will officiate. 

Then join us for a celebration of lives on April 20, 2024 at 5:00 in the evening to honor the lives of recently deceased siblings: Dean Thompson, Vonna (Thompson) Carlson and Shirley (Thompson) Reinke to be held at the home of Ramona and Chad Kendzerski, 1368 East Jefferson Street, Jefferson, OH.  All are welcome.  Dress is casual and dinner, drinks and dessert will be provided.  Please come and share a favorite memory and join in the dedication of memorial trees for each of them. 

The family offers gratitude to all who brightened Dean’s life in any way and those who provided such excellent care for him over the years in California and Ohio and Arizona.

Dean Thompson was a remarkable, humble, humorous, intelligent, and truly good person and is already greatly missed. 

Donations to one’s favorite charity or a family member in need are requested in lieu of flowers.     

Light a candle or leave a memory at www.marcyfuneralhome.com. 

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