Willard Ray THOMPSON

Born

11 July 1926 , Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA

Died

6 September 2007 , Springfield, Massachusetts, USA

Age: 81

Parents & Family of Willard Ray THOMPSON

Parents

2 recorded View parent relationships

Grandparents

4 recorded View grandparents

Spouses, Marriages & Children

1 recorded relationshipView family relationships

Family Tree

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Born: 11 July 1926 in Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA

Parents of Willard Ray THOMPSON

Father

Charles Rudolph THOMPSON

Mother

Bertha VAINCOURT

Grandparents of Willard Ray THOMPSON

Paternal grandparents

Frank Ellsworth THOMPSON Lulu May GEORGE

Maternal grandparents

Joseph VAINCOURT Marie Rosalie TREMBLAY

Willard Ray was a soldier in World War II.
Tracing Ancestors Through Military Service Records: Unveiling Family Heroes

Spouse(s)/Partner(s) and Child(ren):

Willard Ray married Frances KROLL . The couple had (at least) 3 children.
Frances KROLL was born 27 September 1920 in New Britain, Connecticut, USA. Frances died 21 September 2016 in Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA . Frances was the child of John Leon KROLL and Helen MAKOWSKI.

Willard Ray THOMPSON died 6 September 2007 in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA .
Details of the family tree of Willard appear below.

FAMILY HERITAGE FINDS

Gifts & Books Connected to This Family

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Operation Underworld: How the Mafia and U.S. Government Teamed Up to Win World War II

World War II: The Definitive Visual History from Blitzkrieg to the Atom Bomb

Honoring WWII Heroes Ceramic Coffee Mug – World War II Veteran Tribute Gift

Crafted from durable ceramic, this mug is perfect for morning coffee, evening tea, or thoughtful reflection. The dignified 'Honoring WWII Heroes' caption makes it an especially meaningful gift for Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, or as a keepsake for those with a personal connection to World War II history.

WORK & OCCUPATION

Occupation

Recorded occupation: Navy and Police Dept.

Spouses, Marriages & Children of Willard Ray THOMPSON

Willard Ray THOMPSON married

Frances KROLL
Marriage place:
Frances KROLL was the child of John Leon KROLL and Helen MAKOWSKI

Children of Willard Ray THOMPSON and Frances KROLL

Living

Born: , Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville)
Died: ,

Living

Born: , Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville)
Died: ,

Living

Born: , Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville)
Died: ,

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Life & Records

Photos, life events, and historical records for Willard Ray THOMPSON.

Postcards and Memories of Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville)

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Birth — 1926
11 July 1926
Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA

1927 - The aerosol can is invented (Erik Rotheim, Norway)

1927 - April 7 – Bell Telephone Co. transmits an image of Herbert Hoover (then the Secretary of Commerce), which becomes the first successful long distance demonstration of television

1928 - Sliced bread (bread slicing machine) is invented by Otto Frederick Rohwedder (United States)

1929 - Herbert Hoover becomes President of the United States

1929 - October 29 - Black Tuesday - Stock market crash - The Great Depression Begins - It lasted until 1941 (WW2)

1930 - Southbridge, Massachusetts

Name: Willard R Thompson
Birth Year: abt 1927
[abt 1926]
Gender: Male
Race: White
BirthPlace: Massachusetts
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1930: Southbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Map of Home: View Map
Street address: Winsdor CT
House Number: 4 1/ 2
Dwelling Number: 28
Family Number: 60
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: No
Father's BirthPlace: Massachusetts
Mother's BirthPlace: Canada French
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles R Thompson 37
Bertha Thompson 36
Willard R Thompson 3

Source / record details
1930 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

1930 - Scotch tape is invented (Richard Drew (3M), United States)

In 1930, on February 18, Pluto was discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, marking a significant milestone in the study of our solar system.

1931 - The paper towel is invented (Arthur Scott, United States)

1931 - March 3 – The Star-Spangled Banner is adopted as the United States National anthem.

1933 - Franklin D. Roosevelt becomes President of the United States

1933 - December 5 – The 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution is passed, repealing Prohibition

1934 - The metal beverage can is invented (American Can Co., United States)

1935 - The snowmobile was invented by Joseph Bombardier (Quebec, Canada)

1935 - August 14 – United States President Franklin Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act into law

1938 - The ballpoint pen is invented (Lazlo Biro, Hungary)

1938-1944 - Sunscreen is invented (Franz Greiter, Switzerland and Benjamin Green, United States)

1938 - October 27 - Du Pont announces a name for its new synthetic yarn: nylon.

1940 - Southbridge, Massachusetts

Name: Willard R Thompson
Age: 13
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1927
Gender: Male
Race: White
BirthPlace: Massachusetts
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1940: Southbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts
Map of Home in 1940: View Map
Street: Paige Hill
House Number: 132
Inferred Residence in 1935: Southbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts
Residence in 1935: Same Place
Sheet Number: 11B
Attended School or College: Yes
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles Thompson 46
Bertha Thompson 46
Willard R Thompson 13

Source / record details
1940 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

1940 - April - 1st electron microscope demonstrated (RCA), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1941 - December 8 - (the day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor) United States declares war on Japan (WW2)

United States Navy

He joined The Navy in August 1944,was a SC3,and also was a 50cal Machine gunner on the USS Clermont and after the war he served on the USS Oregon City. His nickname was ' Machine Gun Thompson or Tommy Gun '. He served at Okinawa and his ship brought Marines and ammunition to the front lines on the beach and brought back the dead and wounded Marines. He machine gunned Japanese planes,boats,soldiers. He was Honorably Discharged after two full years of service.

He earned the WWII Victory Medal,Asiatic Pacific Medal with 1 Battle Star,American Campaign Medal,Good Conduct Medal.

Source / record details
Original documents,pictures,and was my grandfather

1944 - D-Day, which occurred on June 6, 1944, was a pivotal World War II operation where Allied forces launched a massive invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France. Known as Operation Overlord, it involved over 156,000 troops from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other Allied nations. The operation aimed to liberate Western Europe from Nazi German control. The landings marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany, leading to the eventual Allied victory in Europe.

1945 - The atomic bomb is invented (J. Robert Oppenheimer, et al., United States)

The microwave oven was invented accidentally in 1945 by Percy Spencer, a Raytheon engineer. While testing a magnetron, he noticed microwaves melted a candy bar in his pocket. Experimenting further, he discovered microwaves could cook food quickly. Raytheon patented the process, and by 1947, they built the first commercial microwave oven, called the 'Radarange.' Initially used in commercial settings, microwaves becomes affordable for home use by the 1960s and 1970s, revolutionizing cooking.

1945 - Harry S. Truman becomes President of the United States

1945 - On September 2, 1945, World War II officially ended with the formal surrender of Japan. The surrender ceremony took place aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, where Japanese officials signed the Instrument of Surrender in the presence of Allied representatives, including General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz.

1948 - Velcro is invented (George de Mestral, Switzerland)

1950 - June 25 - Korean War begins when North Korean forces invade South Korea.

1953 - Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes President of the United States

1953 - On July 27, 1953, the Korean War ended with the signing of an armistice agreement at Panmunjom. This ceasefire halted the conflict between North Korea, supported by China and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, backed by United Nations forces primarily from the United States. The agreement established the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) near the 38th parallel, effectively maintaining the pre-war boundary and creating a buffer zone between the two Koreas.

1961 - John F. Kennedy becomes President of the United States

1961 - Vietnam War officially begins with 900 military advisors landing in Saigon.

1962 - The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense 13-day standoff in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union over the installation of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. coast. The crisis is considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war. It began when American spy planes discovered the missiles, leading to a U.S. naval blockade of Cuba and intense negotiations. The crisis ended when Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba and secretly agreeing to remove American missiles from Turkey.

1963 - I Have a Dream Speech - Martin Luther King's Address at March on Washington August 28, 1963.

In 1963, on November 22, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, while riding in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza. The assassination shocked the nation and the world, leading to widespread mourning and a period of intense national introspection. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States shortly after Kennedy's death. The assassination sparked numerous conspiracy theories and investigations, with the Warren Commission ultimately concluding that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination. Kennedy's death had a profound impact on American politics and society, marking the end of an era often referred to as 'Camelot.'

1968 - The ATM is invented (Don Wetzel, United States)

1969 - Richard M. Nixon becomes President of the United States

1969 - July 20 - Apollo 11 - Man lands on the moon

June 17, 1972 – August 9, 1974 - Watergate Scandal began with the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., in 1972. Members of President Richard Nixon's administration attempted to cover up their involvement. The scandal led to the discovery of multiple abuses of power by the Nixon administration, the resignation of President Nixon in 1974, and the indictment of several administration officials.

1973 - January 22 - Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 and Doe v. Bolton, 410 U.S. 179: The U.S. Supreme Court declares that the Constitution protects women’s right to terminate an early pregnancy, thus making abortion legal in the U.S.

1973 - March 29 - The last United States soldier leaves Vietnam

The cell phone was invented by Martin Cooper of Motorola. On April 3, 1973, he made the first handheld mobile phone call with the Motorola DynaTAC. This device weighed 2.5 pounds and was 10 inches long, offering 30 minutes of talk time and requiring 10 hours to charge. The first commercial cell phone was released in 1983, revolutionizing communication and leading to the modern smartphones we use today.

1974 - Gerald R. Ford becomes President of the United States after the resignation of Richard Nixon.

1977 - Jimmy Carter becomes President of the United States

The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State occurred on May 18, triggered by a 5.1 magnitude earthquake. It caused the largest landslide in recorded history, followed by a massive lateral blast. The eruption killed 57 people, destroyed 250 homes, and spread ash across the U.S.

1981 - Ronald Reagan becomes President of the United States

1981 - June 5 - First reported case of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

1982 - The camcorder is invented (Sony Corp., Japan)

1983 - The laptop computer is invented (Radio Shack Corp., United States)

1986 - January 28 - Space Shuttle Challenger accident - The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when the shuttle broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members.

1989 - The World Wide Web is invented at CERN (Tim Berners-Lee, UK)

1989 - George H. W. Bush becomes President of the United States

1993 - William J. Clinton becomes President of the United States

2001 - George W. Bush becomes President of the United States

2001 - September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Coordinated terrorist attacks by the extremist group al-Qaeda on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, leading to significant changes in U.S. domestic and foreign policy, including the War on Terror.

Obituary

SOUTHBRIDGE Willard R. Thompson, 81, of Paige Hill Rd., died Thursday, September 6, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, after an illness.

He leaves his wife of 58 years, Frances (Kroll) Thompson two sons, Jeffrey Thompson of West Brookfield, Robert Thompson of Southbridge a daughter, Beverly Lacasse and her husband Kenneth of Pomfret Center, CT three grandchildren, Natalie, Gabriel and Tyler all of Southbridge. He graduated from Mary E. Wells High School and served in the Navy during WWII.

He retired as Sergeant from the Southbridge Police Department where he worked for 25 years. After his retirement he worked part time for Christie & Thompson Auto Parts and was a chauffer for the Masonic Home in Charlton. His memberships included the Quinebaug Lodge of Mason in Southbridge, the Doric Chapter, charter and life member of the VFW Post 6055. He enjoyed camping, spending summers in Seabrook, NH, tinkering with projects, and spending mornings at McDonalds with his friends.

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