Chester Thompson

SOUTHRBIDGE – Chester “Chet” B. Thompson, 83, of Cole Ave., died Saturday, March 7, in his home surrounded by his family, after an illness.  His wife of 39 years, Shirley (Nichols) Thompson, died in 2006.  He leaves his son, Clyde Thompson, and his wife Denise, of Southbridge; his granddaughter, Tracy Cournoyer, and her husband, Daniel, and their son, Nathan, of Southbridge; two sisters, Winfred Lucey, of Phoneix, AZ, and Gladys Curtis, of Oxford; two brothers, Howard Thompson, of Southbridge, and Warren Thompson, of Georgia; several nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by two sisters, Pauline Marcy and Joyce Thompson, and three brothers, Stanley Thompson, Earl Thompson, and Roger Thompson. 

He was born on March 6, 1926, in Southbridge, the son of the late Ralph E. and Grace (Barlow) Thompson, and lived in the area most of his life.  He graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a Bachelor of Science degree.  He served in the United States Army during WWII and in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict.  In 1953, he partnered with his brother Roger, and bought Frank Morse’s farm on Eastford Rd.  This is where they started and operated a 50 head Dairy Farm.  Along with his work on the farm, he was employed by The American Optical Co.  During this time Chet was conducting Metallurgical Analysis, worked on the Todd A.O. Movie Screen and was invited attend the debut of “Okalahoma” in New York City.

Chet left the A.O. and collaborated with Will Hicks and established Mosaic Fabrications, a Fiber Optic Company, which became Galileo Fiber Electro Optics. He was a partner and Vice President of Galileo until he retired in the early 1980’s.

Chet enjoyed taking art classes, being outdoors, relaxing by the lake, playing golf, and spending time with his family.

Public calling hours will be held from 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m., Wednesday, March 11, in the Belanger-Bullard Funeral Home, 51 Marcy St., Southbridge.  A funeral service will be private.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Overlook Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice Services, 88 Masonic Home Rd., Davenport Building, 2^nd Floor, Charlton, MA 01507 or to the Central Baptist Church, Main St., Southbridge, MA 01550.  An online guestbook and a video tribute for Chet will be available at www.BelangerFuneralHome.com.

Please use the link below to view Chet\'s Video Tribute

http://memorial.yourtribute.com/chesterthompson