Ralph Thompson,

Bluefield, WV- Rev. Ralph Edward Thompson, Jr., 78, of 1409 College Ave, Bluefield, died Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at his residence. Born November 2, 1932 in Bluefield, he was the only child of the late Ralph Edward and Virginia Peery Thompson. Rev. Thompson graduated from Beaver High School, Bluefield, 1951, attended Bluefield College, 1953, and graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1955. He earned a Masters of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary, 1960. He had advanced training in Clinical Pastoral Education. He was a member of the West Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church and retired after over 40 years as a United Methodist Minister. He served Ashworth Memorial UMC, Matoaka; Mount Hope UMC, Mount Hope; Bruce McDonald UMC, Man; Humphrey’s Memorial UMC, Charleston; Pea Ridge UMC, Huntington, and as the Lewisburg District Superintendent, 1991-1995 and the Greenbrier District Superintendent, 1995-1998. During his ministry he served as a parish coordinator, camp director, member of various committees, boards, and agencies of the United Methodist Church and two years as Dean of the Bishop’s Cabinet. He was also a member of various civic organizations in the communities in which he lived. In 1973 he was named Minister of the Year by the WV Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, camping, spelunking, fishing, hiking and being a baseball and rail fan. In his summers during college and seminary years he worked as a vacation relief worker for the N&W Railway. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Judy Wiles Thompson of Bluefield; son Mark Edward Thompson and his wife Jennifer of Marietta, GA; daughter Elizabeth Anne Stoker and her husband Damon of Mechanicsville, VA; and son Jeffrey Paul Thompson and his wife Karen of Arvada, CO. Grandchildren include Coleman Edward Thompson, Katherine Lisle Thompson, Caroline Elizabeth Stoker, Jackson Rush Stoker, Sarah Alice Thompson and William Henry Thompson. A graveside service will be held on Saturday November 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at Monte Vista Park Cemetery in Bluefield with Rev. Susan Rector officiating. Those wishing to attend the service are asked to meet at Mercer Funeral Home by 9:45 a.m. A memorial service will be held on Saturday November 20, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church with Rev. Susan Rector officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 12:00 noon until the service hour. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be to Trinity United Methodist Church, 401 College Avenue, Bluefield, WV 24701. Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages with the family may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Rev. Ralph Edward Thompson, Jr.