James (Jim) R. Thompson, 97, died peacefully at the VNA Hospice Home in Vero Beach on June 24, 2026. He was born in Caldwell County, Kentucky on November 16, 1928 to Mary Horning Thompson and Lester Thompson. He served in the Navy during the Korean War on the Valley Forge aircraft carrier. After a career in engineering with DuPont and Magnavox he went into real estate and apartment development with Regency Management in Vero Beach Fl.
He has one sister Patsy Lambert of Vero Beach. He was married to Danice Cheatham for 17 years and had five children. David of Carrollton TX, Michael (Cindy) of Fort Wayne, IN, Tom (Sandy) of Onalaska, WI, Mychel Krout (Doug) of Danville, IL and Jeff (Vicki) of Onalaska. He was married for exactly 54 years to Norma Carroll with whom he had Jimmy (Stephanie) of Valrico, FL.
He was blessed with 17 grandchildren, 31 greatgrandchildren and 4 greatgreatgrandchildren. They were the joy of his life.
In addition to family he loved to fish and moved to the Florida Keys in 1997 where he shared that love with many family members. He was Catholic and a member of St. Peter Church in Big Pine Key, where he was an active member of the Knights of Columbus.
He was a gentle soul and will be remembered for the love, support and kindness he spread to all who knew him. There will be a celebration of his life at the Family Reunion in July, 2027.in Kentucky.
If you wish to remember him, please make a donation in his name to the VNA Hospice Home in Vero Beach where he was so gently and lovingly cared for at the end.