Ralph LaRoy Thompson Jr.

Mr. Ralph LaRoy Thompson Jr., 64, husband of Charlotte Miers Thompson, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, in McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence after a long illness.

Mr. Thompson was born July 29, 1948, in Kingstree, a son of Mary Nell Todd Thompson and the late Ralph LaRoy Thompson. He was a 1966 graduate of Kingstree High School, attended Wofford College, and served in the U.S. Army in Japan and Korea, as well as with the Pentagon in the United States. Upon leaving the military, he took a position with SESI in Germany. In addition to owning his own business, Williamsburg Computer Services, Ralph worked as an Information Technology Specialist with the Williamsburg County Schools and served as Director of the Office of Technology for Clarendon School District One. He also served as a member of the Williamsburg County School Board. Having been an avid ham radio operator for years as “KI4AOQ”, he was a member of Williamsburg County’s CERT (Certified Emergency Response Team) and a member of the Florence Amateur Radio Club. Ralph was a member of Kingstree First Baptist Church and a past member of the Kingstree Moose Lodge and the Kingstree Rotary Club.

Survivors, in addition to his beloved wife Charlotte, of Kingstree, are three dearly loved and attentive sons, Benjamin Edward (Faith) Thompson, of Columbia, Michael Scott Thompson, of Florence, and U.S. Army Specialist Paul Anthony Thompson, of Tumwater, Wash.; two much loved grandchildren, Chloe Thompson, of Marion, and Dezmund Thompson, of Columbia; a step-grandson, Dylan Hartgrove, of Columbia; his mother Mary Nell Thompson, of Kingstree; two sisters, Eileen T. (“Binky”) Maness, of Spartanburg and Julia T. James, of Florence; and his nephew Todd James, of Florence, who he treated like a son, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews

Funeral services, conducted by Rev. Dr. David Dinkins, will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, in Kingstree First Baptist Church. The committal service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday in Florence National Cemetery in Florence. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Williamsburg Funeral Home in Kingstree.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73123-1718 or McLeod Health Foundation, specifically McLeod Hospice Services or McLeod Cancer Center for Treatment and Research, P.O. Box 100551, Florence, S.C. 29502-0551.