Charles Rudolph THOMPSON

Born

30 June 1893 , Oxford, Massachusetts, USA

Died

7 February 1975 , Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA

Age: 81
Cause of Death: Heart Attack

Parents & Family of Charles Rudolph THOMPSON

Parents

2 recorded View parent relationships

Grandparents

4 recorded View grandparents

Spouses, Marriages & Children

1 recorded relationshipView family relationships

Family Tree

Open family tree View pedigree chart

Born: 30 June 1893 in Oxford, Massachusetts, USA

Parents of Charles Rudolph THOMPSON

Father

Frank Ellsworth THOMPSON

Mother

Lulu May GEORGE

Grandparents of Charles Rudolph THOMPSON

Paternal grandparents

Eli D. THOMPSON Mariah Louise BRYANT

Maternal grandparents

Obediah GEORGE Lucinda BUXTON

Charles Rudolph was a soldier in World War I.
Tracing Ancestors Through Military Service Records: Unveiling Family Heroes

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

Charles Rudolph married Bertha VAINCOURT 23 June 1925 in Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA . The couple had (at least) 1 child.
Bertha VAINCOURT was born 6 July 1893 in Franklin Centre, Québec, Canada . Bertha died 17 April 1994 in Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA . Bertha was the child of Joseph VAINCOURT and Marie Rosalie TREMBLAY.

Charles Rudolph THOMPSON died 7 February 1975 in Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA .

Grave Inscription:

Charles R Thompson
PVT US Army
June 30 1893 - Febuary 17 1975

Details of the family tree of Charles appear below.

FAMILY HERITAGE FINDS

Gifts & Books Connected to This Family

Explore a family-history gift or research resource related to this ancestor.

The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914

The First World War: A Complete History

Honoring WWI Heroes Ceramic Coffee Mug – World War I Remembrance Gift for Veterans, History Buffs & Patriotic Homes

Honor the courage, sacrifice, and legacy of those who served in World War I with this timeless 'Honoring WWI Heroes' ceramic coffee mug. Designed as a daily reminder of bravery and remembrance, this mug is perfect for veterans’ families, history enthusiasts, educators, and anyone who values the stories that shaped our world.

WORK & OCCUPATION

Occupation

Recorded occupation: American Optical,Head Foremen of the Zyloware Department for 35 years.

Spouses, Marriages & Children of Charles Rudolph THOMPSON

Charles Rudolph THOMPSON married

Bertha VAINCOURT
Marriage date: 23 June 1925
Marriage place: Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA
Bertha VAINCOURT was the child of Joseph VAINCOURT and Marie Rosalie TREMBLAY

Marriage notes:

SOUTHBRIDGE - June 23 - Charles R. Thompson of Windsor, ct, a World War veteran, who was captured by the Germans at Argonne Forest, and Miss Bertha L. Vallancourt of 17 Henry st were married this afternoon in Holy Trinity Church by Rev Leigh R Urban. The bridegroom's brother, Allan Thompson of Oxford, and Miss Exina Tremblay were the attendants.

Boston Daily Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, June 23, 1925

Name: Charles Rudolph Thompson

Event Type: Marriage

Birth Date: abt 1894

Marriage Date: 22 Jun 1925

Marriage Place: Oxford, Massachusetts

Marriage Age: 31

Father Name: Frank C Thompson

Mother Name: Lula George

Spouse Name: Bartha Livina Vaillancourt

Spouse Marriage Age: 31

Spouse Father Name: Joseph Vaillancourt

Spouse Mother Name: Roselie Trambley

Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Children of Charles Rudolph THOMPSON and Bertha VAINCOURT

Willard Ray THOMPSON

Born: 11 July 1926, Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA
Died: 6 September 2007, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA

Married: Frances KROLL

Add Life Event

Have another record or photo?
Add a life event, census record, military record, obituary, achievement, or photograph for Charles Rudolph THOMPSON.

Life & Records

Photos, life events, and historical records for Charles Rudolph THOMPSON.

How to read this timeline
Records about Charles Rudolph THOMPSON and family appear alongside historical events from the same years. Each item is labeled so you can quickly tell family records from historical context.

Show:

Use these buttons to focus on the ancestor's own records or the wider historical context.

Birth

Name: Charley Rudolph Thompson
Event Type: Birth
Birth Date: 30 Jun 1893
Birth Place: Oxford, Massachusetts
Father Name: Frank E Thompson
Mother Name: Lula George

Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Source / record details
ancestry.com

1897 - Aspirin is invented (Felix Hoffmann (Bayer), Germany)

1897 - William McKinley becomes President of the United States

1898 - April 25 – Spanish-American War: The United States declares war on Spain

1898 - December 10 – The Treaty of Paris is signed, ending the Spanish-American War.

1900 - Oxford, Massachusetts

Name: Charles Thompson
Age: 7
Birth Date: Jul 1892
BirthPlace: Massachusetts
Home in 1900: Oxford, Worcester, Massachusetts
Sheet Number: 1
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 18
Family Number: 18
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Grand Son
Marital Status: Single
Father's BirthPlace: Massachusetts
Mother's BirthPlace: Massachusetts
Occupation: At School
Attended School: 4
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Can Speak English: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Obediah George 63
Lucinda B George 67
Otis M George 39
Lulu Thompson 30
Frank Thompson 37
Georgia Thompson 14
Ada Thompson 11
Charles Thompson 7
Josie Thompson 3
Evelyn L Thompson 10/ 12

Source / record details
1900 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

1901 - King Camp Gillette and William Emery Nickerson invented the world's first disposable razor blade in 1901. (Boston, Massachusetts, USA)

1901 - William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, was shot on the grounds of the Pan-American Exposition in the Temple of Music in Buffalo, New York, on September 6, 1901, six months into his second term. He was shaking hands with the public when an anarchist, Leon Czolgosz, shot him twice in the abdomen. Theodore Roosevelt becomes President of the United States.

1902 - July 17 - Willis Haviland Carrier designed the first modern air-conditioning system. (Buffalo, New York, USA)

1903 - The first engine-powered airplane is invented (Wilbur & Orville Wright, United States)

1904 - June 28 - U.S. begins construction of Panama Canal.

1906 - August 22 – The first Victor Victrola, a phonographic record player, was manufactured, revolutionizing the way people listened to music at home.

In 1906, Reginald Fessenden made the first AM radio broadcast on December 24th. This event marked a significant advancement in radio technology, paving the way for the modern broadcasting industry.

1907-1908 - The electric washing machine is invented (Alva J. Fisher, United States)

1908 - First Model-T car is produced by Henry Ford (United States)

1909 - William Howard Taft becomes President of the United States

1910 - Oxford, Massachusetts

Name: Charley R Thompson
Age in 1910: 16
Birth Year: abt 1894
BirthPlace: Massachusetts
Home in 1910: Oxford, Worcester, Massachusetts
Street: Side Streets
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: Frank E Thompson
Father's BirthPlace: Massachusetts
Mother's Name: Lulu L Thompson
Mother's BirthPlace: Massachusetts
Native Tongue: English
Occupation: Bobbin Boy
Industry: Woolen Mill
Employer, Employee or Other: Wage Earner
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Out of Work: N
Number of weeks out of work: 0
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Frank E Thompson 48
Lulu L Thompson 43
Ada G Thompson 23
Charley R Thompson 16
Joseph K Thompson 13
Eveline Thompson 11
Allen Thompson 7

Source / record details
1910 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

1912 - April 15 - Titanic sinks in the North Atlantic

1913 - The assembly line is invented (Henry Ford, United States)

The bra is invented (Mary Phelps Jacob, United States)

1913 - Woodrow Wilson becomes President of the United States

1913 - October 31 – The Lincoln Highway, the first automobile road across the United States, is dedicated

1915 - January 25 - First United States coast-to-coast long-distance telephone call

World War I Draft Registration

Name: Charles Rudolph Thompson
Race: Caucasian (White)
Marital Status: Single
Birth Date: 30 Jun 1893
Birth Place: Massachusetts, USA
Street address: Georgei Crossnig
Residence Place: East Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

Source / record details
U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
A World Undone: The Story of the Great War, 1914 to 1918

1917 - March 2 – The enactment of the Jones Act grants Puerto Ricans United States citizenship.

1917 - April 6 – WWI: The United States declares war on Germany

Army 58th Infantry 4th Infantry Division

Joined the Army in April 27th 1918. Trained at Camp Devens in Massachusetts. While in training he was with the 304th Infantry Co B. Shipped to France for combat on July 8th 1918. Then served with the Co I 163rd Infantry for The Toulon Sector Battle till August 8th. Then for the rest of the battle he served with the Co D 58th Infantry. He did heavy combat in Vesle Sector Battle,St Mihiell Offensive,Meuse Argonne Offensive. October 1st 1919 his company was alone in the Argonne Forest and under deadly machine gun fire. He was on the left flank,the right and middle got the orders to retreat and his side never got the order. The whole left flank company were all killed except for him. For over 24hrs he was alone up against hundreds of Germans. He was under fire from 30 German machine guns,over 3 dozen Snipers. He took out 2 machine guns alone,and was wounded after 30hrs alone then was captured. He sent to the Rastatt German POW Camp. He was starved,beaten and also tortured for defending

Read full story

Source / record details
All original pictures,letters,documents,family stories.

1918 - March 19 – The United States Congress establishes time zones and approves daylight saving time

1919 - June 4 – Women's rights: The United States Congress approves the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which would guarantee suffrage to women, and sends it to the U.S. states for ratification

1920 - January 17 - Prohibition goes into effect on January 17, 1920, under the provisions of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution

1921 - Warren G. Harding becomes President of the United States

1921 - Charles Strite of Minnesota patents the pop-up toaster.

1923 to 1927 - Television is invented (Vladimir Kosma Zworykin (Russia), Philo Taylor Farnsworth (United States))

1923 - Calvin Coolidge becomes President of the United States

1925 Marriage / Partner
Charles Rudolph THOMPSON and Bertha VAINCOURT 23 June 1925, Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville)

He was 32 years old.

1926 Birth of Child
Willard Ray THOMPSON was born 11 July 1926, Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA (Globe) (Lensdale) (Saundersdale) (Shuttleville)

Charles Rudolph was 33 years old.

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: Charles R Thompson
Birth Year: abt 1893
Gender: Male
Race: White
BirthPlace: Massachusetts
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
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
Home Owned or Rented: Rented
Home Value: 20
Radio Set: No
Lives on Farm: No
Age at first MarriAge: 32
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's BirthPlace: Massachusetts
Mother's BirthPlace: Massachusetts
Occupation: Foreman
Industry: Optical Shop
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker
Employment: Yes
Veteran: Yes
War: WW
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: Charles Thompson
Respondent: Yes
Age: 46
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1894
Gender: Male
Race: White
BirthPlace: Massachusetts
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Southbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts
Map of Home in 1940: View Map
Street: Paige Hill
House Number: 132
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: Southbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts
Residence in 1935: Same Place
Sheet Number: 11B
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 217
Occupation: Foreman Frume Dupt
Industry: Optical Work
House Owned or Rented: Owned
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 4500
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 8th grade
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 40
Duration of Unemployment: 2
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 50
Income: 1879
Income Other Sources: No
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Charles Thompson 46
Bertha

Read full story

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)

World War II Draft Registration

Name: Charles Rudolph Thompson
Gender: Male
Race: White
Residence Age: 49
Birth Date: 30 Jun 1893
Birth Place: Oxford, Massachusetts, USA
Residence Date: 1942
Residence Place: Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Relationship to Draftee: Head
Military Draft Date: 1942

Source / record details
FamilySearch.org. U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947.
The Draft

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.

Death

Name: Charles Thompson
Social Security Number: 020-10-8094
Birth Date: 30 Jun 1893
Issue year: Before 1951
Issue State: Massachusetts
Last Residence: 01550, Southbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Death Date: Feb 1975

Source / record details
Social Security Death Index
Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org: How to Find Your Family History on the World's Largest Free Genealogy Website

Obituary

Charles Thompson
Southbridge - Charles R Thompson,81,of 132 Paige Hill Road, died this morning at Harrington Memorial Hospital, following a long illness. He was the husband of Bertha(Vaincourt)Thompson and father of Sergeant Willard R Thompson of the Southbridge Police Department.

Born in Oxford, Mr Thompson was a son of Frank E Thompson and Lula(George)Thompson.

A veteran of World War I, he was gassed in action in combat against the Germans in France and held a Prisoner of War. He retired as a foremen in the Zyloware Department of The American Optical Corp in 1954, he started working their in 1915 and was a member of the firms Quarter Century Club.

He was a member of The American Legion Post 31.
In addition to his wife and son he leaves two brothers Joseph and Allen Thompson of Oxford, two sisters Mrs Ada Lamb of Auburn and Evelyn Arpe of Webster, three grandchildren and several nephews and neices.