Charles S. Thompson Jr.

Charles S. Thompson, JR. a lifelong resident of Vincentown, NJ passed away on Thursday, October 4, following a short illness. He was the beloved husband of Violet (nee Rietheimer) his wife of 67 years, and loving father of daughters, Mary-Ann Thompson and Kathleen Wright, and son, Charles S. Thompson, III. He graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 1942 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. While at Penn, an active member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and a participant in the R.O.T.C. program. Immediately following his graduation, in the middle of WWII, Charles enlisted in the US Air Force achieving the high rank of Captain, US Air Force. He was assigned to command troops stationed in the Mediterranean Theater: Tunisia, Sicily, Rome-Arno, Naples-Foggia, North Apennines PO Valley and the South of France. In honor of his brave service and successful efforts in WWII, Captain Thompson was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon: Presidential Unit Citation and the Southern Cross from the Brazilian forces who fought with him in North Africa during WWII. Mr. Thompson began his Engineering career at Schutes Hydraulic Pump Company located in Ben Salem, PA. In 1959 he continued his Engineering career working with E. W. Bliss Co. which evolved into Engineering Arresting Systems Corporation of Aston, PA. a division of Zodiac Aerospace. During his 35 year tenure he helped develop and enhance the military arresting systems and ancillary equipment currently used by the US Air Force along with other worldwide Air Forces. Additionally, while at Zodiac, in addition to mentoring junior engineers, he was the inventor or co-inventor on eight US Patents. As a result of Mr. Thompson’s expertise and valuable contributions to the arresting systems made and refined at Zodiac, the lives of many pilots and their aircraft have been saved. Upon retiring from his successful Engineering career in 1994, Mr. Thompson resumed his management of the Birches Cranberry Company on a full time basis. The Birches is recognized for its heirloom and other varieties of cranberries at the World Exposition. The Birches was the family farm, founded in the 1800’s by his Great-grandfather, Martin L. Haines, who was a Captain in the Civil War. To protect the current and future use of the farmland, Charles and Violet Thompson drafted the first land use ordinance for Southampton Township. As an active cranberry grower, Mr. Thompson was also a long time member of the U.S. Cranberry Marketing Committee. Until Mr. Thompson became ill, he continued to actively farm cranberries at the Birches. Relatives and friends may call at the Perinchief Chapels, 438 High St., Mt Holly, NJ on Tuesday evening, October 9 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11:00 AM. Interment at Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, North Hanover Township, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that Memorial Donations to The Rancocas Conservancy, PO Box 2188, Vincentown, NJ 08088 (http://www.rancocasconservancy.org/) would be greatly appreciated.

Charles S. Thompson Jr.

February 18, 1920 - October 4, 2012