Joseph S. Thompson
May 6, 1927 ~ December 12, 2015
FUNERAL SERVICES: 1 p.m. Saturday, December 12, 2015 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 719 5th St., Columbus, IN 47201VISITATION: 11:30 a.m. Saturday, December 12, until service time at the church.MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Friends wishing may make memorials to Lake View Ministries, a non denominational Christ-centered retreat and summer camp or Trinity Lutheran High School thru the Funeral Home. Joseph S. Thompson, 88, of Columbus, passed away December 8, 2015 at his home. He was born in Bloomington, IN May 6, 1927 son of Roy Harrison and Ona Pleasant Thompson, where Joe attended grade school and graduated in 1945 from Bloomington High School. Joe had enlisted in the Navy and on the day of his high school graduation he immediately left for the Navy’s V12 Naval Aviation Cadets program. Joe’s training was at University of The South in Sewanee, TN and University of Louisville. After his naval discharge he returned to his parent’s home in Bloomington, enrolled in Indiana University on the GI Bill, in the IU School of Business, graduating with a major in insurance. Joe immediately took a position with Washington National Insurance Co. in Evanston, IL traveling to elementary schools in MI, OH, and Washington D C. In 1951 Joe was accepted to the School of Law at Indiana University where he served on the Editorial Staff of the Indiana Law Journal. After graduation in June 1954, Joe opened his solo law practice in Columbus on the upstairs corner of Third Street and Washington Street. Joe married Jean Otte of Waymansville, IN on August 15, 1954 at St. Peters Lutheran Church of Columbus. In later years the law practice was moved to 207 Washington Street where he practiced law until retiring in 2008. During his 55 years of law practice Joe was active in the Columbus community, serving in the capacity of City Attorney, County Attorney, was a member of the Bartholomew County Hospital Foundation, member of the Board of Public Works and Safety, as well as was the Attorney for the Utility Service Board for the city of Columbus, Indiana, and served as former President of the Indiana Law Alumni Association. Joe was active in St. Peters Lutheran Church Foundation Inc. Columbus, Indiana, Chairman of Building Committee for Grace Lutheran Church, worked with Grace’s Foundation, and was involved in the District level of the Lutheran Church. He was also a 50 year member of Kiwanis, a member of Indiana State Bar and American Bar Associations. Joe is survived by his wife Jean, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Roy and Greta Otte, of Columbus, IN. He is also survived by nieces Janet Thompson (John) Mcguirk of Sydney, Ohio, Jari Thompson (Philip) VanderMeer of New Richmond, IN, Tina Otte-Fitch of Columbus, IN, and Bruce Otte of Columbus, IN. He was proceeded in death by his parents and only brother Roy H. Thompson Jr.
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Dear Jean, I was saddened to learn of Joes passing from Dad, and I wanted to let you know Ive been thinking of both of you and the love you showed me and Susan. You were always considered extended family in my heart. Ive asked Dad to carry a hug from me to you, as Im not able to attend the services tomorrow. Love, Janet