Cover photo for Bernard G. "Bernie" Thompson's Obituary
Bernard G. "Bernie" Thompson Profile Photo
1937 Bernard 2022

Bernard G. "Bernie" Thompson

March 24, 1937 — June 14, 2022

THOMPSON, Bernard G. “Bernie”, age 85, of Centerville, OH, passed away on June 14, 2022. Bernie was born on March 24, 1937, to the late Roy G. and Charlotte R. (nee Schultz) Thompson, in Chicago, IL. He grew up in the Chicago area, attending the University of Illinois first at Navy Pier, Chicago and later transferring to U of I’s main campus downstate in Champaign-Urbana. There Bernie met his future wife, Karen Ann Lemme, at a campus mixer over a ping-pong table. Bernie graduated from the University of Illinois with a master’s in electrical engineering and began a career at IBM in Lexington, Kentucky. After following IBM to Colorado, he and Karen eventually returned to their Midwest roots and settled in Kettering in 1981. There Bernie worked at KODAK before retiring to devote his teaching talents to the Ohio Mathematics Science Project Discovery.


Bernie loved no title more than that of Husband and Father. He and his late wife Karen spent 55 wonderful years together sailing through the calms and waves of life while raising four extraordinary children. Bernie beamed when he spoke of his children and the families they built - grinning every time he reminisced about their youthful mischiefs. He devoted himself to being there for family in every moment possible: supporting the struggles, celebrating the milestones.


Later in life, Bernie found love again with his partner, Christina Addison, who through a shared love of traveling, the arts, and each other’s company brought unexpected joy to his later years.


Bernie never knew a stranger - his kind, caring, and generous personality had an impact on everyone he met. Always passionate about teaching, he never passed up an opportunity to guide and mentor others. Bernie was never one to let life pass him by - unwilling to sit idle, he constantly pushed himself to make an impact and use his skills and knowledge to leave the world better than he found it.


Bernie would never be keen to be a list of achievements, he never did anything with the intention of recognition or with any expectations of what would follow. He was simply at his core a good man that seized every opportunity to share his love with the world.


Preceded in death by his beloved wife Karen, his brother Dennis, and his sister Charlene.


Bernie is survived by sons, Brian (Kim), Scott (Jenny Stein), Derek (Cyndi); daughter Sarah (Shaun) Hunter; sister Carol; nine grandsons; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.


Bernie’s family will greet friends at 10:00am on July 16, 2022, at St. Leonard’s Catholic Church, 8100 Clyo Rd., Centerville, OH 45458. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00am following the visitation. The family would like to thank Hospice of Dayton for their exceptional compassion and care. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Math & Science Initiative (www.nms.org) or the Jim McCutcheon scholarship fund at Wright State University. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be made at www.routsong.com.

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Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, July 16, 2022

10:00 - 11:00 am (Eastern time)

St. Leonard's Catholic Church

8100 Clyo Road, Centerville, OH 45458

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Mass of Christian Burial

Saturday, July 16, 2022

Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)

St. Leonard's Catholic Church

8100 Clyo Road, Centerville, OH 45458

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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