JAMES RALPH THOMPSON

JAMES RALPH THOMPSON

Mr. James Ralph Thompson, age 79, of Strunk, Kentucky, passed away Monday, June 26, 2006, at the V A Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

Funeral services were held Friday, June 30, 2006, at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of Pine Knot Funeral Home with Rev. Norman Burke and Rev. Ronald Duncan officiating. Burial was in the Lower Cal Hill Cemetery.

He was born at Strunk, Kentucky, on June 14, 1927, the son of the late Everett and Maudie Lawson Thompson. His parents, a daughter, Christina Lynn Thompson Taylor, a sister Opal Morgan and a brother Darrell Thompson, precede him in death.

Ralph leaves behind his wife Cora Faye Thompson of Strunk, and three children Tommy (and Linda) Thompson of Michigan, Patricia Honberger of Florida, and Geraldine (and Michael) Bright of Virginia, and three step-children, Paul (and Jackie) Brock of Cincinnati, Phillip Brock of Cincinnati, and Annette Hinkle of Cincinnati. He has two brothers Willie Thompson of Cincinnati, and Bobby Thompson of Treasure Island, Florida. His sister is Patsy Winchester of Strunk. There are eight grandchildren, two step grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Ralph served in both the United States Army and Navy during World War II. He had worked until his retirement with the Chrysler Corporation in Michigan before returning home to McCreary County. He drove a truck for a while and set up roadside produce stands for so many years that he became known as "The Apple Man". He enjoyed reading his Bible and going to church at Mt. Pleasant United Baptist Church where he was a member. He also enjoyed fishing, gardening, riding around in his truck and talking to people. In earlier years he was an avid golfer and enjoyed golfing with his brothers especially the day he didn't know he had made a hole in one and thought he lost the ball but found it in the cup.

Pine Knot Funeral Home assisted the family of James Ralph Thompson in his funeral arrangements