James Earl Thompson (Jim)

James Earl Thompson (Jim), 78, of Hendersonville, passed away on Tuesday, June 26, 2012, in the loving embrace of his wife. After a courageous and dignified five-year battle with cancer he passed from this life peacefully and with dignity into the loving arms of our Lord.

He was born on October 24, 1933 in Carroll County, Virginia to the late James Henry Thompson and Ethel Lummie Spence.

Jim graduated from Guilford College in 1957 and was a veteran of the United States Navy. Jim met and married his soul mate and "the most beautiful woman in the world," Janet Taylor. They married November 14, 1959, "the happiest day of my life."Jim retired in 1988 after a successful career in the oil business. Jim and Janet moved to Hendersonville, NC in 1997 and both became active members of St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church.

He was a loving and loyal husband who cherished his wife. He was a caring and nurturing father who loved his children unconditionally. To his sixteen grandchildren (and an expected great grandchild),who adored him, he was fondly and lovingly known as Paupaw. He placed family above all else and lived everyday of his life that way.

To his family, "adopted families" and friends who enriched Jim's life, he loved you all. You made his time here a blessing and he was grateful to have shared his journey with you.

He is survived by his wife, Janet Taylor Thompson and his four children, James Earl Thompson Jr. of Memphis, Tenn., (wife Cindy and children Lauren Sargent (and husband David), Cameron and Emlyn), Jennifer Eileen Thompson of Winston-Salem, (husband Frank and children Morgan, Brittany and Blake), Joseph Ellis Thompson of Frisco, (wife Tami and children Ellisa and Elijah) and Janet Thompson Barnard of Alpharetta, Ga., (husband Andrew and children Joshua, Jordan, Justin, James, Jessica, Jennifer, Jaxon and Jason).

A memorial service in celebration of his life will take place at 1 p.m. Friday, July 6, 2012, at St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church (1905 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock) with Rev. John A. Morton, Rev. H. Alexander Viola and Deacon Joyce Beschta officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at a reception in the Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to two charities that were close to Jim's heart. They are: Children and Family Resource Center Scholarship Fund (828-698-0674 or www.childrenandfamily.org/support-us/) and Four Seasons Compassion for Life (828-692-6178 or www.fourseasonscfl.org/donate/).

"There can be no love without honor and respect so let me hold your hands and let's soldier on."

A register book is available online for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangement.