George Thompson, 74, died on Dec. 8, 2023. Born on Sept. 23, 1949, in Tuscola, Illinois, he was raised in Newman by his parents Wilbur and Virginia (Sibley) Thompson who ran the local variety store. He had an identical twin, Robert W. Thompson, and an older sister, Carol V. Sheldon. As a youth, he was a Boy Scout, achieving Life Scout rank, became a member of the Order of the Arrow, and later served as an adult leader, guiding his son to become an Eagle Scout.
He pursued a degree in Mathematics at Eastern Illinois University in 1971, earned a master’s degree from the University of Illinois in 1973, and later an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1983. He moved to Chicago in February 1973, where he met and married Debra (Hayes) Thompson in 1978. He had a successful IT career with companies like Allstate, Kraft Foods, and IBM. After semi-retiring in 2011, he taught mathematics part-time at DeVry University.
Married for over 45 years, they lived in Oak Park since 1980, raising their son, Paul Matthew Thompson, before relocating to Westfield, Indiana in 2021. Known for walking his dog, Gabby, George was also active in the Computer Measurement Group, published papers on capacity planning, and was a community political activist advocating for non-punitive approaches to teenage drug issues. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, enjoyed traveling, dancing, photography, tennis, and hiking. Highlights include a mule ride into the Grand Canyon, a transatlantic trip on the Queen Mary 2, and a 7-week visit to Australia, New Zealand, and the Fiji Islands in 2022.
George is survived by his wife, Debra; his son, Paul; his sister, Carol Sheldon; his brother, Robert Thompson; and several nieces and nephews.
