William Paul Thompson

William Paul Thompson age 96 of Forest City died Friday, July 1, 2022, at the Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

Born March 14, 1926, in Boone, North Carolina he was the son of the late Willie A. Thompson and Geneva Hartley Thompson. He had worked with Broyhill Furniture and then as a long distance truck driver for many years. He then worked for AGI where he retired. He was a veteran of World War II having served in the United States Army, was a member of the Smith Grove Baptist Church, the Church Choir, loved Gospel Music having sung in quartets all his life, enjoyed all sports, especially college basketball and the Atlanta Braves, was an avid golfer, enjoyed trout fishing and trips to the Outer Banks.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded by his wife, Sarah Jane Cook Thompson in 2012, a daughter, Susan Melvin in 2015, an infant daughter, Sylvia and a sister, Martha Thompson Shoemake.

Surviving are his son. William Paul “Billy” Thompson of Forest City; two daughters and three sons-in-law, Patricia Petersen and husband, Bill of Hillsborough, North Carolina, Nancy Clay and husband, Jimmy of Forest City, and Kevin Melvin of Mooresville, North Carolina; a brother, Charles Thompson of Lenoir, North Carolina and a sister Vesta Thompson Rhoades of Bryant, Arkansas; six grandchildren, Heather Melvin Sheehan and husband, Paul, Aubrey Clay and wife Betsy, Austin Clay and wife Jennifer, Troy Melvin, Drew Petersen and Wesley Petersen, and four great-grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 5, 2022, at 3 o’clock at The Padgett and King Chapel with the Reverend Terry White officiating. Interment will follow in the Smith Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by the Rutherford County Honor Guard. 

The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 2:45 prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to Smith Grove Baptist Church, Post Office Box 1195, Forest City, North Carolina 28043 or Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, Post Office 336, Forest City, North Carolina 28043.

The Padgett and King Mortuary & Crematory is in charge of arrangements and an online guest registry is available at www.padgettking.com

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.