Charles William “Bill/Champ” Thompson, 78, of Blairsville, PA passed away on Saturday, June 9, 2018, surrounded by family, at Excela Health Latrobe Hospital, Latrobe, PA.
He was born March 20, 1940 in Blairsville, PA to the late Wayne Gaskill Thompson and Jane (Smay) Thompson.
Bill attended Blairsville Senior High School, where he graduated in 1958. He went on to receive a math degree at St. Vincent College and an electrical engineering degree from Penn State University in 1963. He was also a member of the football and baseball teams at St. Vincent College. Bill spent his entire professional career at Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation, where he retired in 1998. He was also a member of B.P.O.E. #406 Blairsville.
He was a member of the “Blairsville Chain Gang” that worked the IUP football sidelines for 36 years. He was an avid sports fan and loved nothing more than traveling to watch his grandkids play. Bill also remained a devoted catholic, committed to his faith, throughout the course of his life. He was a member of St. Martin Parish in New Derry.
He is survived by his wife, Lois (Barclay) Thompson with whom he would have celebrated 56 years of marriage this June; five children, two sons, Bill (Dana) Thompson of Indiana and Bob (Laura) Thompson of Blairsville; three daughters, Lisa (Rich) Barent of Valencia; Lori (Wes) Sharp of Homer City and Linda (Brian) Christopher of North Huntingdon; five siblings, Ronald Thompson of Orlando, FL; Jane Dallara of Safety Harbor, FL; Tom Thompson of Sunbury, OH; Terrie Love of Creighton, and Chris Winters of Freeport. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Kelsey and Sean Thompson of Indiana; Bobby and Scott Thompson of Blairsville; Caroline and Emily Barent of Valencia; Teagan and Justley Sharp of Homer City and Max, Owen and Ava Christopher of North Huntingdon.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Wayne.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M., Monday, June 11, at the Shoemaker Funeral Home, Inc., 49 N. Walnut St., Blairsville, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, June 12, at St. Martin Roman Catholic Church, New Derry, PA.
Interment will be in Blairsville Cemetery, Blairsville, PA.
