Born in Quitman, Miss., on Aug. 1, 1944, he was the son of W. Edgar Heitman and Mable C. (Hollis) Thompson. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962-73, and was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. He had worked as a welder for Lenhardt Tool and Die from 1979-82, then for McDonnell-Douglas and Boeing from 1987-99 as a machinist and fabricator, working on the F-18E project, then for CK Power from 2000-2012.

On June 26, 1969, in San Antonio, he married the former Juanita P. Perez. She survives.

Surviving also are his son, Father Thompson, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Mt. Sterling and St. Thomas Parish in Camp Point; a daughter, Jennifer A. Thompson; two grandchildren, Jordan C. Hurd and Kennedi E. Koetzle; and five sisters, Marilyn Huff, Paulette Leigh, Pamela Thompson, Phyllis Cornwell and Susan Goldbricht; nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents and a brother, Willard Thompson.

A Mass of Christian Burial with cremains was celebrated at April 1 at Holy Angels Parish Church in Wood River. Father Thompson served as celebrant. Interment was in Wanda Cemetery in South Roxana.

Marks Mortuary in Wood River was in charge of arrangements.