Donald Mead Thompson

Donald married Nellie Pearl Phillips on 20 Jun 1924 in , Avery County, North Carolina, . Nellie was born on 29 Mar 1902 in Ashe County, , , North Carolina; died on 12 Apr 1990 in Wilkes County, , , North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Bobby Camp Thompson was born on September 23, 1931, with Dr. Eustace Sloop in attendance in the family home, which was located in the Gardens of the Blue Ridge Nursery, Pineola, North Carolina.
Bobby Camp was the fourth child of Donald Mead and Nellie Phillips Thompson. He had three brothers and two sisters: Donald Maynard Thompson of Norfolk, VA, deceased; Everett Dale Thompson of Pineola, NC, deceased; Phillip D. Thompson of Kernersville, NC; Beatrice Nell Thompson Booth of Fruitland, NC, deceased; and Barbara Joann Thompson Lyons of Boone, NC.
Bobby Camp was named for the family’s minister and close family friend, The Reverend E. Frank Camp, minister of the Pineola Presbyterian Church. Bobby Camp attended Crossnore School and graduated from Crossnore High School in June 1950. During the summer months of his college years, he worked in The Gardens of the Blue Ridge Nursery, Carey Loven Sawmill, construction work, and in automotive work in General Motors in Detroit, Mich. In the fall of 1950, he enrolled in Lincoln Memorial University, located at Harrogate, Tenn., was Business Manager of the university newspaper, served as Vice President of his class, and graduated with a B.A. degree in May 1954.

On Jan. 31, 1955, he entered the Navy Flight Training Program in Pensacola, Fla. After eighteen months of training, which included qualifying with landings and flights on the Aircraft Carrier Saipan at sea, he received his Navy Wings of Gold. After several months of advanced training in Pensacola, Fla., and Corpus Christi, Texas, he was transferred to a new Fleet Squadron forming in Key West, Fla., Helicopter Squadron Five (HS-5), which was based on the Seaplane Base in Key West, Fla. While in HS-5, he served aboard seven different Aircraft Carriers operating in the Atlantic, North Atlantic above the Arctic Circle, and in the South Atlantic below the Antarctic Circle.
In May of 1957, Bob’s Squadron had a Dress Whites Inspection around 11 a.m. on a Friday. After the inspection, around noon, all personnel were on Liberty for the weekend. Bob and his two best friends, Ken and William, went to downtown Key West for lunch. They were still in their Dress White uniforms and looking their best. Bob needed some stationary to write his friends in North Carolina, so after lunch they walked up Fleming Street one block to a stationary/greeting card-gift shop called Betty Ann Stationers on the corner of Fleming and Simonton streets. Bob asked the young woman at the counter for a specific brand and design stationary. The young lady at the counter informed Bob that she was out of that specific stationary but could order it and have it for him in one week, so Bob placed the order.
Bob told his two friends Ken and William that he was going to ask the young lady if she would like to go out to dinner or to a movie. So Bob introduced himself and met Betty Roberts, the owner and store operator. They had a nice meal at Sebastians and began a beautiful relationship.

After his service in the Navy, Bob entered graduate school and earned his master’s degree from Appalachian State University and his doctorate from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He took additional graduate work at the University of Georgia, North Carolina State University, and Cal State in Los Angeles. On December 20, 1959, Bob and Betty Louise Roberts of Key West, Fla., were married in the Key West Presbyterian Church on White Street by the Pastor, the Reverend Russel D. Toms.
Bob and Betty have two daughters, Phyllis Ann Thompson and Barbara Charlene Thompson England, and two grandsons, Robert Zebulon Wright of Asheville, NC, and Aaron Cole Wright of Wilkesboro, NC. Phyllis is married to David Wood from Baton Rouge, La. David is a Professional Photographer, and Phyllis is Associate Professor and Director of Women’s Studies and currently serving as Interim Chair of Counseling and Human Services at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn. Barbara is married to Robin Anthony England of Charlotte, NC. Robin is an undertaker and works for Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home. Barbara is a retired schoolteacher with the Wilkes County Schools. Barbara and Robin live in North Wilkesboro.
Bob was a member of the North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church and served as a Ruling Elder, Receiving Treasurer, and a member of the Chancel Choir. He was a teacher and guidance counselor at Kernersville High School, Guidance Director at East Forsyth High School, Dean of Student Services at Forsyth Technical Community College, and Counselor and Dean of Students at Wilkes Community College. He retired from the Naval Reserve at the rank Captain in 1982 and from Wilkes Community College as Vice President for Student Development in 1997. He was Past President of the North Wilkesboro Lions Club and Past President of the Wilkes Chapter of the North Carolina Symphony.

His hobbies were trout fishing, tent camping, hiking, water skiing, snow skiing, ice and roller skating, boating, and teaching his family to learn these skills and enjoy these activities.
Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, at Pineola Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Pineola.
Memorial services were held 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 at North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church, with Rev. R.C. Griffin and Rev. Steve Snipes officiating.

Notes:

When God made our mother, He created a masterpiece. She was love, patience, selflessness, and caring wrapped up in the most beautiful soul this planet has ever seen. On Dec. 20, 2022, the body of Barbara Joann Thompson Lyons ended her journey on this planet, but her soul soars high with the angels and will always be with us.

Joann was born on Jan. 2, 1934, in Pineola, NC, to Donald Mead and Nellie Phillips Thompson. She had four brothers and one sister: Donald Maynard Thompson of Norfolk, VA (deceased); Everett Dale Thompson of Pineola, NC (deceased); Bobby Camp Thompson of Wilkesboro, NC (deceased); Beatrice Nell Thompson Booth of Fruitland, NC (deceased); and Phillip D. Thompson of Kernersville, NC.

Joann was attending Appalachian State Teachers' College when her father fell ill with cancer. She postponed pursuing her degree to return home to help care for her father. During that time, Joann took a job working at the courthouse in Newland, NC. On her way to work one day, she caught the eye of a young man whose family had a Dry Cleaning business nearby. The young man followed her to the courthouse, asked a coworker who she was, and soon after, asked her out on a date. That date turned into a beautiful relationship, and on May 5, 1956, Archie Dean Lyons, Sr. of Boone, NC and Joann were married at Pineola Presbyterian Church, in Pineola, NC. Archie and Joann have four sons and one daughter: Archie Dean Lyons, Jr. of Boone, NC, married to Vicki Huss Lyons; Jeffrey Marc Lyons of Barnardsville, NC (deceased), married to Janet Roach Lyons; Gregory Eric Lyons of Millers Creek, NC, married to Lisa Haynes Lyons; Brent Mead Lyons of Todd, NC, married to Janna Wilson Lyons; and Allyson Dawn Lyons of Boone, NC, married to Douglas Rennie Brantz. They have eight grandchildren: Mead Lyons, Forest Lyons, Chad Davis, Carrie Osbourne, Jolean Lyons, Aaliyah Pritchard, Jaylah Pritchard, and Eli Lyons; six great-grandchildren: Branson Osbourne, Levi Osbourne, Wyatt Osbourne, Harper Lyons, Brooke Lyons, and Buchanan Lyons. They also have several four-legged & furry grandchildren.

Joann's greatest joy in life was children, especially her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She dedicated her whole life to the education and welfare of all young children. After getting married, she returned to Appalachian State Teachers' College and completed her degree in 1962 in Early Childhood Education, all while raising her first two children. Joann taught at multiple elementary schools and daycare centers and treated every child she met as if they were her own, giving them all the love and attention they needed to grow as a student and a person. She often went far beyond what any student needed in class to ensure their personal and mental needs were cared for. As an avid member of Grace Lutheran Church in Boone, NC, Joann taught Sunday School and Bible school and wrote and directed numerous church plays and Christmas Programs. Every child who grew up at Grace felt the blessing of her faith, her kindness, and her joyful spirit as she made the story of Jesus come alive in such creative ways. Joann's passion and enthusiasm for teaching and caring for children inspired all who met and worked with her.

We are sad for what we've lost, but heaven has truly gained an angel who will wrap her wings around all the littlest angels there.

On behalf of the Lyons Family, a special thank you to all of the nurses and staff at the Foley Center at Chestnut Ridge in Blowing Rock, NC, for the kindness, loving care and friendship they so freely gave to our mother.

Funeral services will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Boone, NC, on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, at noon.

Following the service, please join the family in the Grace Lutheran Fellowship Hall for refreshments.

A private graveside service will be performed at Pineola Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Pineola, NC, that afternoon at 3:30 p.m.