Seymour
Leo A. Thompson, 88, of Seymour, died at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 6, 2016, at Columbus Regional Hospital.
Born July 21, 1928, in Seymour, Indiana, he was the son of Ralph M. and Susie Quinn Thompson, both of whom preceded him in death. He married Alberta L. Sandefur on June 4, 1950, and she survives.
Leo graduated from Seymour High School in 1946 and immediately started working construction with his father and uncle. In 1951, he joined the Navy SeaBees and was subsequently stationed in California, Cuba, Rhode Island and Newfoundland.
Upon returning to Seymour, he worked with various construction companies building schools and churches. In 1994, he retired from Force Construction, Columbus. He was a 70-year member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America.
He and his wife, Alberta, were very involved with the International Order of Rainbow for Girls in Indiana and traveled all over the country attending their meetings. He was affectionately known as “Pop Thompson” by all the girls. He had previously served as the chairperson of their Indiana Rainbow Girls Foundation and was in charge of the care and maintenance of their property in Edinburgh.
Leo was also a 54-year member of Jackson Lodge No. 146, Free & Accepted Masons; a member of the Scottish Rite of the Valley of Indianapolis; Seymour Chapter No. 134, Order of Eastern Star; the Seymour Grand Cross of Color, and had received the DeMolay Legion of Honor. He was also a member of the American Legion, was awarded the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels and had received the Order of the Arrow with Boy Scouts of America.
Leo was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Seymour and had often served with the trustees overseeing their building, parsonage and property.
Survivors include his wife and their two children, Vicki (Steve) Otto and Dale (Edie) Thompson; grandchildren, Michael Thompson, Amanda Thompson and Matthew (Sara) Thompson; great-grandchildren, Isaac, Madison, Shayla and Alexys Thompson; his sister, Helen Sipes Lutes; his aunt, Evelyn Wieneke; his sisters-in-law, Lucille Thompson and Shirley Sandefur; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandchild, Katherine “Kati” Otto; his brother, Allen Thompson; his brothers-in-law, Roy Sandefur and Robert “Max” Sandefur; his uncles and aunts, Earl (Golda) Thompson, Homer (Oma) Thompson, Louis Richard Thompson, Ruby (Russell) Guinn, Ruth (Archie) Boggs, Rachel (Kenneth) Findley, Earl Wieneke and Omer “Bud” (Mabel) Quinn.
A funeral memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2016, at 1:30 p.m. at Voss & Sons Funeral Home, 316 N. Chestnut St., Seymour, with Pastor Mike Seaney officiating. Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery immediately following the service with full military graveside rites conducted by VFW Post 1925, American Legion Post 89, Disabled Veterans 47, Korean and Vietnam Veterans, all of Seymour.
Visitation will be at Voss Chapel on Friday from 3 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from noon until time of service. Masonic services will be conducted at 6 p.m. Friday.
Memorial checks may be written to the Indiana Rainbow Girls Foundation or Trinity United Methodist Church Improvement Fund through Voss & Sons Funeral and Crematory Service, Seymour, Indiana.
A complete obituary may be viewed on the funeral home website at www.vossfuneralservice.com.
