Jerry Wayne Thompson, 72, of Henderson, Kentucky, went to be with the Lord Wednesday, June 8, 2016.

He was a member of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church. Jerry was born November 18, 1943 in Henderson, Kentucky. He graduated from Holy Name of Jesus Catholic High School in 1962. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October 1962 and served aboard the nuclear submarine USS Von Steuben until 1968.

He was employed by Bucyrus Erie Company and Firestone Steel Products between 1968 to 1976, when he went to work as a Maintenance Mechanic at Big Rivers Electric Corporation in Henderson, Kentucky. He retired as a Senior Maintenance Mechanic in 2001 after 25 years of service.

Jerry loved watching football, playing golf, and working on his farm. He also enjoyed history. He loved his family and adored his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one grandson, Noah Christopher Thompson; his parents, John Albert and Mary Ida Clark Thompson; two sisters, Mary Elizabeth Thompson and Dorothy Jean Williams; and one brother, Virgil Leonard Thompson.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Meredith Ann Dickens Thompson; one son, Christopher Wayne Thompson and his wife, Angel, of Henderson, Kentucky; one daughter, Jacqueline Ann Larson and her husband, Ronald, of Tallahassee, Florida; one grandson, Elijah Christian Thompson of Henderson, Kentucky; one brother, John Thompson of Sullivan, Indiana; one sister, Joann Roberts of Henderson, Kentucky; nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church. Father Larry McBride will officiate. Burial will be in St. Louis Cemetery with full military rites performed by American Legion Worsham Post No. 40.

Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and until 10 a.m. Saturday at Rudy-Rowland Funeral Home where prayers will be said at 6 p.m. Friday.

Contributions may be made to Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, American Cancer Society, or Smile Train.

Pallbearers will be William Roberts, Robert Thompson, Jamison Wathen, Glen Miller, John Bush, Mark Jones, Ronald Skaggs, and Chad Miller.