James M. Thompson, veteran, entrepreneur

James M. Thompson, 76, of Dagsboro, passed away Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in Lewes. He was born Aug. 2, 1946, in Lockport, N.Y., son of the late Ralph and Irene (Shimer) Thompson.

Jim graduated from Starpoint Central School in Lockport before attending Syracuse University and finishing his degree at SUNY Buffalo. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Jim and Paula (Lovell) Thompson were married Dec. 30, 1966, in Lockport, N.Y. They lived in Maryland for 34 years, and later enjoyed retirement living near the Delaware shore. Jim was a salesman and entrepreneur. For the majority of his career, he worked in sales in the beverage industry. Jim later invented the Green Gorilla golf putter, marketed by Mammoth Golf, where he served as vice president of marketing. He enjoyed watching football, playing golf, boating, and visiting his children and their families in Maryland and Florida.

In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his brothers, John “J.O.” Thompson, David “Dave” Thompson and William “Bill” Thompson; and his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Keith and Dian (Lovell) Wright, John “Jack” and Donna (Lovell) Sokay, and Joan Thompson and Patricia “Pat” Thompson.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Eric J. Thompson (Kim) of Perry Hall, Md., and Renee L. Thompson of Tampa, Fla.; his grandsons, Neil Thompson, Benjamin Thompson and Aidan Bohr; his sister-in-law, Dorothy “Dot” Thompson; and several nieces and nephews.

It was Jim’s desire not to have a public memorial service. The family invites his friends and relatives to celebrate his life and memory with gratitude and good cheer in their own way, as Jim would have wished it.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Speak for Animals, P.O. Box 24185, Greenville, SC  29616, speakforanimals.com.

Visit Jim’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.