Thompson - Charles M.
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review 21 Oct 1968 p 1 typed by Walt W
Charles M. Thompson, 69, of 1105 S. Grant Ave., retired only last May as national secretary of the Ben Hur Life Association, died at 5:30 a.m. Sunday in Culver Hospital after an illness of several months. He had served as national secretary of the firm 10 years. He began his career with Ben Hur as a field representative in 1932 in Rochester, N.Y. He became state manager of northeastern Ohio. In 1942 he changed occupations and moved to California, but in 1950 he became associated with Ben Hur again and was named national field director, returning to this city. Later Mr. Thompson returned to the West Coast, but in 1958 he accepted the post as national secretary and came back to Crawfordsville. After retirement he continued in an advisory capacity and as an honorary member of the firm's executive committee. Mr. Thompson was born Sept. 10, 1899, in Lyons, N.Y., a son of Charles and Catherine Mestler Thompson. He was married in 1921 to Delpha Ainsworth, who survives. A graduate of Lyons High School, he was a star basketball player and for some years afterward played professionally. He was a member for a time of the old Rochester Centrals, forerunners of the Cincinnati Royals. He once coached a girls basketball team. Mr. Thompson was employed with Eastman Kodak before becoming associated with Ben Hur. He was a member here of the first Baptist Church. Surviving besides his wife are a niece and two nephews. Funeral services are set for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Hunt and Son Funeral Home, where friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday. Burial will be Saturday afternoon in East Newark Cemetery at Newark, N.Y. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Crippled Children's Society.