Obituary of Joshua Thompson

Mr. Joshua Thompson, Jr., 92 years old, formerly of Locust Avenue, died Sunday at the Wilkinson Residential Health Care Facility. He was born May 21, 1914 in Ballygargan, Northern Ireland, a son of Joshua and Rebecca Rogers Thompson. Mr. Thompson moved to the United States with his family at 12 years old, locating in Amsterdam where he had since resided. Mr. Thompson served with the U.S. Army during WWII, with the Military Police, stationed at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. He was employed by the former Mohawk Carpet Mills in Amsterdam, as advertising manager, and then was employed by N.Y.S. for the Dept. of Labor, retiring in 1976. Mr. Thompson loved to camp and fish at Whitehall in the Adirondacks and at the Boy Scout Camp. He was active in scouting, serving as a scoutmaster for many years, instilling the values of scouting in many young men. Many today value those lessons learned. On December 17, 1949 he married the former Norma M. Foss. She died July 1, 2006. Mr. Thompson is survived by three sisters-in-law: Marlene Arthur Shelmandine and Elvina and Helen Thompson, a special niece: Karol Thomas Spenard, two special nephews: Paul Monica Shelmandine and Arthur Laurel Shelmandine. Several other nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. Josh's family would like to extend a special thanks to his cousins Ileen, Wilfred and Bill Marks for their assistance and considerations to our beloved Joshua. The Office for the Burial of the Dead will be read at 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, January 17, 2007, by the Rev. Christopher A. Smith, at Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam. Burial is in the spring at Green Hill Cemetery, Amsterdam. The family will receive relatives and friends from 11:30 until 12:00 noon on Wednesday prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made: Green Hill Cemetery Assoc. c/o the funeral home.