Oliver Arlo Thompson

Oliver Arlo “Sparky” Thompson, son of the late George and Iva (Hodge) Thompson, was born on August 30, 1914 in Norwood, Missouri, and passed away on Thursday, May 22, 2008 in Palm Desert, California at 93 years of age.
Oliver grew up in the Norwood area and graduated from Norwood High School. He worked in the aircraft industry in Los Angeles, California during World War II.
Following the war, he worked as an engineer for Southern Pacific Railroad and retired after thirty-two years. During this time he made his home in Fresno, California.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters: Susie Thompson and Cleo Cole; and by four brothers: Burval, Edsel, Richard, and George Thompson.
He is survived by his former wife of forty-two years: Maxine (Sumner) Thompson; two children: Ron and his wife, Laura, and Judy; four grandchildren: Julie, Sue, Kim, and Jason; five great-grandchildren: Ian, Sarah, Isabelle, Tyler, and Clayton; Maxine’s four sisters: Pauline Turgon and Evelyn Wright, both of Mtn. Grove, Missouri, Opal Chadwell of Norwood, Missouri, and Helen Schlesinger of Altadena, California; nieces; nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Oliver was hardened by the crucible of life and did not bend or yield to the very end of his long life.