William Charles "Toby" Thompson's Obituary
William Charles "Toby" Thompson, 91 years of Columbia, IL., passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2025 at Township Senior Living Community Springfield, MO. He was born February 28, 1934, in Murphysboro, IL.
Toby was a faithful and long time member of the First Baptist Church in Columbia, IL., where he served as a deacon and loved his men's Sunday School class. He was a retired carpenter/millwright from Ralston Purina. Toby proudly served his country from March 11, 1955 - March 8, 1957 in the Army and was in the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper where he was honorably discharged as a Specialist 3rd class. Toby enjoyed woodworking, fishing and he loved all things with nature and the outdoors, from raising hedgehogs, rabbits, chipmunks and tending to quail eggs, along with fresh and salt water aquariums. He dearly loved his family, Toby and Norma faithfully attended baseball games, sporting events, plays, pageants, color guard, and taekwondo competitions and many other activities their children and grandchildren participated in.
Surviving are his son, Brian (Sharon) Thompson, his daughter, Brenda (Curt) Hempen, his grandchildren, Andrew Thompson, Rebecca (Tim) Watts, Brittany Manning, Casey (Deron) Duncan, Blair (Graham) Weber, and Morgan Hempen, his great-grandchildren, Bentley, Ezra, Israella, Oziah, Wren, and Elanor, along with other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 68 years, Norma Thompson whom he married on December 22, 1955 and who passed away on June 6, 2024, and his parents, Clifton Oliver and Mildred Lavinia, nee Fernside, Thompson.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 7, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Leesman Funeral Home in Columbia, IL. Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 8, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Columbia, IL., with Pastor Jonathan Peters, officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to Illinois Baptist Children's Home and Family Services, 949 County Road 1300 North, Carmi, IL. 62821.
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