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Funeral Ceremony: 3 p.m. Sunday, October 18, 2020, at Kinmundy Christian Church
Interment: Elder Cemetery
Visitation: 12 noon until 3 p.m. on Sunday at the church
Willie Thompson, age 78, of Kinmundy, Illinois, passed away early Thursday morning, October 15, 2020, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Indiana.
He was born August 14, 1942, in Flora, Illinois, the son of Elmer and Ona (Harmon) Thompson.
Willie had a very long and versatile career in law enforcement, having served 31 years. His service included Clay County Sheriff, Flora Chief of Police, Deputy Director of Secretary of State Police and Conservation Police Chief. He was the 1981 Teacher of the Year at Frontier Community College, was a member of the Wabash Outing Club, and was also a member of the Barbed Wire Choir and made an appearance on Good Morning America to promote his hometown of Flora. He loved to fish and visit with friends but was his happiest when he was surrounded by his family.
He was a member of the Kinmundy Christian Church where he was a trustee and in charge of the security team.
He leaves to mourn his passing his wife: Sandra; 2 sons: George (Jana) and Matt; 3 brothers: Jim (Brenda), Bob (Ruth), and Dave (Linda); 5 grandchildren: Janell (Ben) Farleigh, Janae (Marcus) Clarry, Luke (fiancé Maddie Hollis) Thompson, Malcolm Thompson, and Lorena Thompson; 7 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and a host of friends also survive.
A funeral ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 18, 2020, at Kinmundy Christian Church with Josh Conley officiating. Interment will follow in Elder Cemetery. Visitation will be 12 noon until 3 p.m. on Sunday at the church. In accordance with an Illinois mandate, wearing a face mask and following social distancing guidelines is recommended. Arrangements are in the care of Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. Memorial donations are suggested to Kinmundy Christian Church and will be accepted through the funeral home. To share a memory or condolence visit www.frankandbright.com
Jul 21, 1931 - Nov 18, 2024
Nov 15, 1940 - Nov 9, 2024
Sep 5, 1961 - Oct 31, 2024
Nov 14, 1941 - Oct 30, 2024
Nov 28, 1936 - Oct 29, 2024
So sorry for your loss prayers
No...No! Not Willie Thompson! Too soon...A man among men. Nobody did not like this man. Sandra, we feel for you and family, and pray for your comfort and healing at this time. God Speed & God Bless
So sorry about Willies passing! He will be missed! Prayers go out to you all! We will meet up with him again some sweet day! God Bless
Sorry for your loss. We is gonna miss him
sorry for your loss
Jim & Brenda I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Willie. Sending you and the rest of your family many hugs and prayers.
sorry for your loss
I've known Willie all my life, such a wonderful person. He was my hero as a child, always smiling and happy. Prayers to the family, he will be missed.
My heart broke early this morning when my mom called and broke the news. Such a nice man. There are no words. Sandy - thoughts and prayers to you and the family for peace in this difficult time. If there is anything you need please reach out. He will be so missed
I cry now trying to know what to say . You always treated me with kindness Willie. I so looked forward to getting together at the NMN for lunch with you and Sandy and Becky Stocke when I came back to Flora to visit. You will certainly remain in my heart forever. Love you dearly friend Willie.
So sorry for your loss, he served his community well. Prayers for all.
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you🙏🏻
We are so sorry to hear about willie's passing , we sending our deepest sympathy .
So sorry for your loss. Our prayers go out to all family and friends.
My husband Mark Haram and I are so sorry to learn of Willie’s passing. He was a great guy and an asset to the community. Mark remembers Willie coming back to FTHS several years after he graduated to give him, Jim Knapp and others on the track team pointers on how to best throw the shot put. Sincere sympathy to the family.
So sorry to hear of Willie’s passing. He was a nice man, a good person! Prayers for the family.
For no longer than I have had the honor of knowing Willie and Sandy I have grown to know and respect and admire their dedication to God first and foremost and to other people and the willingness to serve for a cause greater than themselves. The world should mourn when we lose someone like Willie! Now he is face to face with the savior and we will pray for the dear family left to grieve.
What a loss. I can remember all the times we played together when he visited his aunt and uncle out by the west wye. I also remember we were the same size even though I was two years older. He was a gentle soul. He will be missed.
Sandy, my deepest condolences to you and your family. I don't have the words to express my sadness when I learned about Willie's passing today. As you know, it was Willie who called me in September 2009 with the news that my brother Hal had passed. Today, one of my first thoughts was that Hal and Willie are now together again in their Eternal Home with their Lord and Savior. They were the closest of friends through high school and now they are reunited again. May God give you peace.
We are very sorry to hear about your loss. sandy and Larry Shock
(I entered Willie Thompson's name rather than mine in the "Name Box". I thought there would be a signature box of my name after I'd drafted my condolences. Sorry for that. Please edit my mistake.)
We are so very sorry to hear of Willie's passing. He was such a great guy! Our sympathy goes out to all of the family.
Very sorry to learn of Willie’s passing. God bless his family and may memories of the times you shared remain in your hearts forever. Willie was a family friend from his high school years with by brother Wayne and my other siblings. He was always friendly and caring anytime I ever talked to him. Willie was a good man with a kind soul!
So sorry to hear of Willie's passing. Condolences to the family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.. so sorry for your loss
This truly a loss. Willie was a character but was a true friend.
So sorry to hear of Willie's passing . He was a good man and will be missed. Praying for his family.
So very sorry. He will be missed by so many .. God bless you all..
Sad to hear the news! Willie was a good friend going way back. Happy for him to wake up in heaven
I am very sorry to hear this. It was an honor to know Willie and get to know some of his extended family. May God Bless you all.
Sandy, so sorry for your loss! Our prayers are with you and your family!
Oh dear Sandra our hearts, love, and tears have been yours today. Our prayers have been continual and will not stop. Psalm 27:4 - “ One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.“ Willie, enjoy your new house and we will see you soon
To Bob Thompson and all the Family, We are so so sorry for the loss in your Family, Our Prayers go out to you and your family, Sandy and Larry Shock
So Sorry for your Loss. Very sweet man in Gods loving hands way too soon. Prayers
We are very saddened to learn of Willie's passing. We have all been friends since our childhoods with many fond memories. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sandy and all of Willie's family. R.I.P. Willie.❤️
So sorry for your loss. Willie was one of the good guys.
Sorry for your loss ! Hugs and Prayers !
So sorry for your loss. Willie was a great man and will be missed by many. Prayers of comfort for all the family.
We were so sorry to hear of Willie's passing. My father, Harley Bonham, thought so much of him. Please know your family is in our thoughts and prayers. He will certainly be missed by all that knew him.
So sorry for your family's loss..prayers.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all..Willie was a very special part of Flora...my mother thought a lot of him and all the Thompson boys....
A good hearted man. The world will be less without him.
Sandra and all the Thomson family. What a great man. Praying for you and your families in this difficult time. So very sorry for your loss but Heavens gain❤
I am so sorry and sad to hear this. You all are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sandi, so sorry for your loss. He was a good guy. I glad that I was able to meet you and see you both a couple of years ago.
We are so very sorry to hear this news. We send love and prayers to the family and church Family at Kinmundy.
So sorry for your loss. He was always a very good friend to my parents. God bless you all at this hard time.
So sad to hear , glad I got to see him and visit with him Last year . My prayers for the family
My late husband Chuck and I held Willie in the highest regard. He always did his job well and showed respect for everyone. He had a friendly smile and mannerism. Im glad had an opportunity at a dinner a while back to express that to him. He was hunbled and recturned in kind. Condolences to loved ones.
So sorry to hear this, he was a great guy! He helped my mom and I when we first moved to Flora and he was in the police department. Prayers to you all.
Deepest condolences are extended to the family.
Words cannot express the deep loss I feel in losing such a dear and close friend. My thoughts and prayers are certainly with Sandy and the family at this very difficult time.
I have great memories of Willie from high school years. He was a special person. Sympathy to the family for the loss of Willie. God’s blessing and peace for Sandy and family.
My condolences to all the Thompson families. You will be in my prayers.
So sorry for your loss. Willie was a special person & a friend. Prayers for all.
So sorry to learn of your loss, Sandy. Willie will forever live in my memory as “Is we is or is we ain’t?” May God bless you all during this most difficult time!
Sandy, my heart breaks for you. Wish I was there to give you a hug. I wish I could have met him.
"The moon just went behind the clouds, to hide its face and cry." But, there's a halfback happy to see his talented tackle arrive on their celestial field. With love and careful thought (and credit to Hank Williams) for the Thompson family.
I am so very sorry for your loss. Prayers for the family.
Very sorry to hear of Willie's passing. We are sending our deepest sympathy for all the family.
Sandra, I am so sorry to hear of your loss of Willie. I’m sure he will be missed by not only you but many other people. You have my sincere sympathy and prayers for you and your family.
We are so sorry for your loss.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Willie’s family. I’m so sorry to hear this Nanci and LeeAnne!
Sandy, we are so sorry to hear of your loss. We are praying for God’s comfort during this difficult time.
We are again so saddened to hear of a friends untimely death. Prayers for you all. Willie was a great man and good for this community. He will be missed.
What fun times we did have with Willie at FTHS. He was a very entertaining classmate. Although we left Flora after high school, he stayed and made it a better place in which to live. We tip our hat to you dear old friend!!!
Sorry for your loss
Willie was a great person, it was my honor to call him a friend. He loved his Lord, Family and community! I learned a great deal from him and could always ask him anything! A very intelligent man. And a true man among men! I will truly miss him!! My deepest sympathies to Sandy and family!!
Speaking for the family of the late Joe & Linda Woomer. I'm daughter Kristy and wanted to pass on condolences from my family. Dad always enjoyed Willie and I will keep yr family in our prayers.
Thoughts and prayers!
Was very shocked to hear this! Sandra & family you have our deepest sympathy. Didn't know Willie very well but liked what we did know! Again, so sorry for your loss!
Willie was a Big Man With A Big Heart, prayers go out to all the family.
Jane and Jason, Savannah, and Bob and Ruth, so sorry to hear of your Uncle and Brother passing. Not that I knew him real well, heard alot of stories about him. He will surely be missed, Thoughts and Prayers to the entire Family. May he rest in Peace.
So sorry for your loss; prayers-for the family
Sending prayers for comfort... so sorry for your loss of Willie, friends since school days, he will be missed.
Sorry to hear about the loss of your husband, Sandra. Cherish your memories 🙏🙏
My condolences to all the Thompson family members, I had the utmost respect for Willie as a student at FTHS, he was a true mentor to so many of us following him not only in sports but throughout the various high school programs. You brothers of Willie - you were definitely cut from the mold and it was awesome to have been your classmates as well. God’s Blessings to each of you Dave Bumgarner Class of ‘63
Willie was a great and much loved man. I loved his singing voice! My prayers to the family. He will be truly missed!
Our prayers and thoughts for you Sandy and all the family.
So sorry for your loss my thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
So sorry for your loss. Willie will be missed by many. Prayers for you and family.
Willy was the Sheriff when I got hired at Clay County Sheriff's Office. Always liked him and we got along well, will miss him.
Jim, Bob, Dave and families: Our condolences to you in your loss. We know the pain of losing a sibling. You’re all in out prayers. RIP Willie
So sorry for the loss of Willie, he was a good soul and a friend to many. Heaven is lucky to get such a great guy.
So sorry for your loss, he was one of the good guys.he will be greatly missed.
The Thompson family has always held a special place in our hearts. I am so saddened to hear of this great man's passing. My prayers are with all of you during this time.
Sympathy is extended to The Family& Community. Sorry for Your Loss. The positive societal impacts of "Willie" will be long remembered.
So so sorry to hear this news. We will miss you Willie. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Sandy & Family, We are so sorry for the loss of our cousin Willie, our hearts go out to you, may God give you the strength to get through these trying times. We have always enjoyed our visits and the laughter we shared. Due to these trying times with Covid-19, we will not be able to attend. But our love and thoughts will be with you all. God Bless
So sorry for your loss. Thoughts and Prayers.
So sorry for your loss, knew Willy from school
We were so sorry to hear of Willie’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sandy and family.
He was a special person !! He helped a lot of kids in the 60 & 7os. he will be missed!!
My family were such good friends with Willie as all of Clay County was. You will be missed by many. Prayers go out to the family.
When I needed help, he took care of my problem. Good guy with blessings.
To the Thompson family, our hearts go out to you. May God wrap His arms around you and comfort you at this time. Many fond memories of Willie go back to when we lived by Ivan and Wanda. He would pull into the driveway with lights and siren going off for a little girl who was drinking a root beer. Dennis and Sue Hampsten family
I am so sorry for your loss, Sandy. My condolences to you and all who loved him.
So sorry to hear of your loss. My condolences to his wife and Willie’s kids, and brothers Jim, Bob, and my classmate Dave and your families. He was a great guy with many accomplishments in his lifetime.
My deepest sympathies for all the family at the passing of Willie. May he rest in peace and may all of you find comfort during these difficult times.
This one really hit me. He would always notify me when a classmate would pass away. What a shock to see his picture on the F&B web site. We've lost a really good man. My sympathy to his family.
Our deepest sympathies. Please know our hearts go out to Willie’s family and friends during this difficult time. He was such a good man and will be missed by all.
Prayers going out for the families and friends. He did a lot for the community it looks like... hope it lives on and keeps his memories alive.
So sorry to hear of Willie. He had a good soul, one that is not easy to forget, and also one that we always will remember! R I P WILLIE, you'll not be forgotten!!
Sandy, Jim and Brenda, Bob and Ruthie, and Dave and Linda, and families: We are so sorry, and saddened by the loss of Willie. He was one of the good guys, and will be terribly missed by all friends and family. Our thoughts, prayers and love are with all of you. God Bless each one.
So sorry to hear of Willie’s passing he was a great fellow
Very nice man I really enjoyed working with him.
Sending my sympathy from out here in California to all those whose lives were touched by Willie. My best friend since 1981 is his son Matt. I didn't get to know Willie that well as Matt was in Urbana at the time we were friends and I only visited Flora a couple times. however I do believe Willie passed down his sense of humor and rhythm(as exhibited in the amazing 1987 "Is we is or is we isn't" video")to his son. Several years ago I was back visiting and got to watch his grandson Malcolm play a football game with Matt and Willie-you could tell how proud he was. I know he loved Malcolm and his sister Lorena a bunch and they loved their Grandpa Willie just as much...breaks my heart thinking about it-losing a grandparent is a very specific and difficult loss. Everyone please be safe and responsible during this difficult time...
So sorry to hear of Willie’s passing, a great person & will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him!! Prayers for the family...
You have my Heartfelt Sympathy. Thoughts and Prayers . Loved Willie he was one of the good guys . He will be missed !
Condolences to the Thompson family on you loss. He served Clay county well and will be missed.
We counted Willie as a good friend. We respect his long service to his community. Prayers go out to his lovely wife, Sandy. Bob and Jean
We are sorry to hear this he well be missed by many. Prayers for all.
Sandy and Thompson Family....💕Our hearts, love and prayers go out to you ! We are still processing this devastating news.... Kevin and I will never forget your kindness and sincere love that you and Willie shared with us during your time in Springfield and beyond! The love you shared with my parents over the Christmas Holiday was a holiday tradition and a beautiful memory that we all treasure. We have some beautiful memories with you and Willie that we will never forget... “ The Big John Man”, the UPS Circle of Honor ( the boat) and many others that I look forward to sharing with you over the Holidays! May God wrap his arms around you and your family! We Love You Dearly! 💞
Sorry for your loss Nanci your dad was a good man at times will always remember him coming into Dukes.
So saddened by this you are all in our thoughts and prayers
I remember Willie as a star on the basketball team, a fellow who always had a smile, always ready to join in an adventure, always ready to support his home town. He was helpful (and didn't laugh) when I locked myself out of a rental car at a high school reunion, he checked on my mom when she had moved to the nursing home. Willie was one of the "good guys" and will be missed.
We want to extend our condolences to the family of Willie Thompson. May the Lord of All be with you in your time of trouble. Virgil and Rosalyn Uphold
Sandy, so sorry for you and your families loss. He will truly be missed by all. I worked with Willie at the Secretary of State Department of Police for 5 years. I will never forget his many smiles and his laugh! My prayers go out to you and your family. He will truly be missed ❤️❤️❤️
So very sorry to learn of Will’s passing. I was his secretary at DNR Office of Law Enforcement & loved working for him. My sincere condolences to the family. He will be missed.
Knew Will from working at the SOS Police. He was a good friend and respected member of the Department. My heartfelt condolences to this family in the loss of a good man.
My sincere condolences. Willie was a terrific inspiration and a wonderful Man to work with not only as a boss but a friend. Prayers are with him
You have our deepest sympathies and we will pray for you all!!! Willie was a great influence in our community!!!
So sorry to hear. Thoughts and prayers for all of his family.
A good pal since I can remember, do not have the words to deal with this. Sandy and the Thompson family, we are so sorry......
Very sad news.... to this day I can still remember watching him on the morning show cheering for Flora.....A true hometown guy!
So sorry to hear of Willie's passing. He was a close friend of my dad, Allen. I remember the two of them having coffee and visiting, dad even rode with Willie several times at night when he was Sheriff . He was definitely a kind and understanding man. SINCERE CONDELENCES to his family.
So deeply sorry for your loss. With deepest sympathy! Brad & Teri Baker
So sorry to learn that Willie passed away. He had such wonderful friends and community jobs that helped people. He gave and people loved him. He will be missed. Hopefully we will remember his service to God and country.
Willie was a great friend to my family when we moved to Flora. You will never be forgotten. I will never forget the good ole days working at the Ranch with your Mother. Great lady too!!!! Sympathy to those you left behind.
Sad day to hear of his passing. The whole community will miss him. My prayers go out to his family.
I am so sorry to hear of Willie’s passing. What a wonderful man he was ... I thought the world of him. He will be missed. My sincere condolences to you, his family. God bless you and keep you!
I am so sorry for the loss of Willy he was a great guy and will be missed by many .May Gods love comfort you threw this difficult time.
Frank & Bright Funeral Home
and Cremation Services
500 North Main Street
Flora, Illinois 62839
Phone : (618) 662-2141
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