Jesse M. Thompson's Obituary
Jesse passed away peacefully on July 29, 2018 in Naples, Florida with family by his side. He was born in Fort Myers, Florida on October 16, 1927 to the late Mr. and Mrs. George M. Thompson and Ruth I. Green-Thompson. His ancestors were original settlers of Southwest Florida in the 1880’s and he was a lifelong resident of Fort Myers and an active business owner and community leader. Many longtime locals will remember Jesse as the owner and operator of the City Fish Market which for over 50 years was located on Anderson Avenue (MLK, Jr. Blvd.) across from the News-Press building and the downtown fire station in Fort Myers. He and his wife, Virginia B. Wilhelm-Thompson, married for 52 years, were leaders in the founding of Wesley United Methodist Church. Jesse was a proud World War II U.S. Army veteran who served in Japan during the post-war U.S. occupation. He was a generous and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia B. Wilhelm-Thompson and sister, Janis Thompson-Edelblut. Jesse is survived by his daughter, Stephanie J. Thompson-Shaffer, granddaughter, Ginger A. Topper, grandson, Sean M. Allen and great-granddaughters, Chloe E. Topper and Hannah K. Topper. Donations in Jesse’s memory can be sent to: Ruth Benevolent Fund, First Assembly of God, 4701 Summerlin Road. Fort Myers, FL 33919. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 pm Friday, August 3, 2018 in the chapel of Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home followed by burial in Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Friends will be received from 12:00 pm until the time of the service.
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