Obituary of Edwin Stratton Thompson

Deerfield, IL - Edwin Stratton Thompson died on Friday, July 27, 2012 at Westmoreland Lake Forest Nursing Care Center in Illinois after a short illness. He was 90. Born in Somerville, NJ to the late Robert M. and Frances E. (Fleming) Thompson on August 14, 1921, he was a resident of Far Hills and Peapack-Gladstone NJ before moving to Illinois in 1964. He attended the Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy, and graduated in 1944 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nautical Science. He was a Merchant Marine Chief of Staff, serving at Normandy Beach and Omaha Beach with the Merchant Marines until the end of World War II. He served the US Naval Reserves from 1942 until the early 1950's. Mr. Thompson attended NYU School of Commerce Accounts and Finance, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1949. He was employed by AT&T in New York City for 18 years until transferring to Illinois Bell in 1964. He retired in 1982. Mr. Thompson was a member of the Far Hills School Board, and also served on the Somerset County Republican Committee from 1958 to 1964. In addition to his parents, Mr. Thompson was predeceased by his wife of 24 years, Dorothy (Beevers) in April 1980; two infant brothers, Walter and William; a brother Robert F. Thompson, and a sister, Evelyn Thompson Epsaro. He is survived by two nephews, Robert S. Thompson and his wife Kim and their children Robert E. and James; and Douglas E. Thompson and his wife Cheryl and their children Molly, Katie, and Scott all of Tewksbury. Arrangements are by the Bailey Funeral Home, 176 Main Street, Peapack, NJ 07977 (908) 234-0590 www.baileyfuneralhomes.com A graveside service is scheduled for Monday, August 6, 2012 at 11:30 AM at New Cemetery, 192 South Bridge Street, Somerville, NJ 08876. Everyone is asked to gather at the cemetery at 11:15 AM for the service. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mr. Thompson are requested by the family to the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Foundation, INC., PO Box 222011, Great Neck, NY 11022