Ralph Harmon Thompson, 88, of Philipsburg died at Windy Hill Village in Philipsburg on Saturday Feb. 1, 2014.
He was born Sept. 19, 1925, in West Decatur, to Charles and Lula (McDowell) Thompson. He was Protestant by faith.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, where he served in the European Theater. He was a prisoner of war. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for going out under fire to rescue a fellow soldier during the invasion of Italy.
In 1965, he established the Pike Coal Company of which he was owner and operator until his retirement.
He was a life-time member of the Philipsburg Elks Club, a life associate member of the F.O.P., Bald Eagle Lodge No. 51. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, canning and running his fruit and vegetable stand. Most of all, he loved his grandchildren.
On Jan. 10, 1964, he married Janice Marie Wrye of Morrisdale.
He’s survived by his wife, Janice of 50 years; his three sons, Gregory Alan Thompson of Johnstown, Ralph Kevin Thompson and his wife, Kristen of York and Dennis Thompson and his wife, Sherry of Houtzdale.
Also surviving are his sister, Muriel Kyler; his sisters- in-law, Yvonne Thompson and Diane (Wrye) James and her husband, Robert; a brother-in-law, Jackson Wrye; five grandchildren, Sean, Hannah, Katelyn, Jennifer and Jordan; two great-grandchildren Aubrey and Domanic; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Lula; his sisters, Doris, Bernice and Irene; his brothers, Clinton, Leo, Charles, Fred, Robert, Roland, Burtis and Leroy; and his son, Bradley Kent Thompson in 1994.
Friends will be received from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Friday at the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, Philipsburg. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. William R. Walker officiating.
Burial will be in the Philipsburg Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded at the funeral home by members of the Moshannon Valley Independent Honor Guard.
The family requests that memorial donations be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be sent at www.beezerheathfh.com.