James Michael Thompson, Sr.

James Michael Thompson, Sr. (75), of Hendersonville, passed away surrounded by family on Saturday, April 17, 2021 at Elizabeth House in Flat Rock, North Carolina after receiving care at Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Thompson, Sr. and Mary Thompson of Bristol, Virginia, and sister, Amy Johnson, of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, his family made a home near Buffalo, New York, where he graduated from Clarence High School. He attended University of Kansas before enlisting in the United States Army in 1966 to support the war effort in Vietnam. He was proud to be an Army helicopter pilot and was honorably discharged in June 1967. Throughout his lifetime he was a manager of restaurants and retail stores.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Janet Thompson, daughter Lindsay Heitman (Brice) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, sons James Thompson, Jr. (Alondra) of Greenbelt, Maryland, and Bradley Thompson (Mary Henry) of Memphis, Tennessee, brother Raymond Thompson, Jr. (Jacqueline) of East Amherst, New York, sister Jane Vosseller (Geoffrey) of East Aurora, New York, and Katherine Quesenberry (Richard) of Abingdon, Virginia. He is beloved as “Uncle Jim” by his nine nieces and nephews.  He especially cherished his three grandchildren, Neely and Kellen Thompson of Memphis, Tennessee, and Leah Heitman of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and had a loving devotion to his dog Tucker.

A memorial service with military honors and reception for family members will be held at Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina, on Thursday, April 22, 2021, at 3pm, Pastor Andrew Kerhoulas of Grace Community Church in Mills River officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Wounded Warrior Project, woundedwarriorproject.org.