Robert M Thompson

Robert M Thompson, age 95, died on August 16, 2018, at the United Helpers Maplewood Campus in Canton. He was a resident of the United Helpers Partridge Knoll Campus for seven years.

Robert was born on February 9, 1923, at the family home at Flackville, the son of Robert and Mabel (Rutherford) Thompson. He had one sister, Laney Hutchinson, who is deceased.

He attended the one room Flackville School for eight years, then went to Ogdensburg Free Academy where he graduated in 1940 as salutatorian of his class. He graduated from Canton ATI in 1942 with honors. This is where he met his future wife.

After graduation he returned to the family farm where he went into a partnership with his father. This was during World War II.

He married Esther Weatherup on June 10, 1944, at the bride’s home on Maple Ridge Road in the Town of DeKalb. They lived at the Thompson Family home in Flackville for 10 years. Then, they purchased a Raymond Geary Farm on Five Mile Line Road in Lisbon where they lived for 40 years. This was a purebred Holstein operation from which they sold high quality breeding stock throughout the United States and in some foreign countries. He held various positions in the State and National Holstein Associations and served on the Sire Selection Committee for a major bull stud in New York State.

He was active in the community having been a Sunday school teacher, a member of the Lisbon Central School Board of Education, and local 4-H Club leader for many years. He was one of the original 22 St. Lawrence County Legislators representing the Towns of Lisbon and Madrid for District 1. He was Chairman of various committees for all ten years of his service. He was the Lisbon Town Assessor for four years.

After retiring from politics and the farm he became a New York State Certified Real Estate Appraiser and created the Thompson and Hostetter Real Estate Appraisal Co. which provided this service throughout New York State, and is still in existence today.

Robert is survived by ten children: Dr. Robert and Karen Thompson, Bethany Beach, DE; Marilyn and Thomas Henderson, Macedon, NY; Dr. Marjorie and George Norton, Blacksburg, VA; William and Patricia Thompson, Prescott, AZ; Mark and Carole Thompson, Watertown, NY; Ruth and Joe McWilliams, South Colton, NY; David Thompson, Cobleskill, NY; Dr. Donald and Cori Thompson, Pagosa Springs, CO; Stephen and Shelly Thompson, Rehoboth Beach, DE; Marcia and Robert Hostetter, Canton, NY. He has 21 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday, September 1, 2018, from 2:00-4:00 pm and from 7:00-9:00 pm at the O’Leary Funeral Home, Canton. A funeral service will be held on Sunday, September 2, 2018, at 1:00 pm at the O’Leary Funeral Home with Rev. Walter Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Campbell Cemetery, Lisbon. Following the graveside committal, the family will receive friends in the Laurentian Room at the Best Western University Inn, Canton.

Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.olearyfuneralservice.com.

Charitable donations may be made to:

UH Partridge Knoll Campus 30 Sullivan Drive

Canton, NY 13617

Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley 6805 US Highway 11 Potsdam, NY 13676

Contributions also may be made to the Northern New York Community Foundation, 131 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601, designated to the Thompson-Weatherup Family Charitable Foundation to establish a permanent scholarship to benefit graduating seniors at Lisbon Central School in honor of Robert and Esther’s commitment to education.

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