Ralph Sheridan THOMPSON

Born

4 December 1898 , Agawam, Massachusetts, USA

Died

8 July 1983 , Vero Beach, Florida, USA

Age: 84

Parents & Family of Ralph Sheridan THOMPSON

Explore parents, grandparents, spouses, children, and the family connections surrounding Ralph Sheridan THOMPSON.

Parents

Ward Lyman THOMPSON Alvina Martha CROUSS

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Spouse & Children

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Born: 4 December 1898 in Agawam, Massachusetts, USA

Father: Ward Lyman THOMPSON

Mother: Alvina Martha CROUSS

Paternal grandparents: Sheridan Ward THOMPSON , Selona Eugenia THOMSON

Maternal grandparents: Johann Georg "George John" KRAUSCH "CROUSS" , Amalie Christiane "Augusta" VOGEL

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

Ralph Sheridan married Lillian Barbara SHEAFFER abt. 1924 . The couple had (at least) 3 children.
Lillian Barbara SHEAFFER was born 31 July 1901 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA. Lillian Barbara died 5 June 1957 in Montgomery, Massachusetts, USA. Lillian Barbara was the child of Harry Chester SHEAFFER and Georgiana Marshall MARCHESSAULT.

Ralph Sheridan THOMPSON died 8 July 1983 in Vero Beach, Florida, USA.
Details of the family tree of Ralph appear below.

A Glimpse into the Everyday Life of the Average American Man in the Mid-1900s

Are you related to Ralph Sheridan THOMPSON? If so, Forever Cousins: Eight Generations of the Theinert Family is a family history book about YOUR family!

What was our family talking about in 1900? Probably this! Find out why.
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Spouse & Children of Ralph Sheridan THOMPSON

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Ralph Sheridan THOMPSON married

Lillian Barbara SHEAFFER
Marriage date: abt. 1924
Marriage place:
Lillian Barbara SHEAFFER was the child of Harry Chester SHEAFFER and Georgiana Marshall MARCHESSAULT

Marriage notes:

"Marriage Intentions were filed at the office of this town clerk yesterday by Ralph Sheridan Thompson, 25, machinist of 2305 Orem avenue, Baltimore, Md., and Lillian Barbar Sheaffer, 22, bookkeeper, of 30 Eldredge avenue."

Date: February 21, 1924

Location: Massachusetts

Paper: Springfield Republican

Children of Ralph Sheridan THOMPSON and Lillian Barbara SHEAFFER

Ralph Sheridan THOMPSON

Born: 12 December 1924, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
Died: 9 November 2015, West Springfield, Massachusetts, USA

Married: Adele Mary DUDZIK

Harry Roy THOMPSON

Born: 7 September 1925, Holtwood, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: 17 January 2004, , Florida, USA

Donald Sheaffer THOMPSON

Born: 5 November 1932, Agawam, Massachusetts, USA
Died: 11 June 2014, Vero Beach, Florida, USA

Married: Cecelia TOMASELLO February 1963

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Life & Records

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Records about Ralph Sheridan 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.

1898 Birth
Dec 4, 1898
Agawam, Massachusetts
Ralph Sheridan Thompson
son of Ward L. and Alvina M. (Crouss) of Agawam
Ward is a machinist, born in Monterey
Alvina was born in New York, NY

Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1925
Researching Your Colonial New England Ancestors

1900 Agawam, Hampden, Massachusetts
name: Ralph S Thompson
titles:
residence: Agawam Town, Hampden, Massachusetts
birth date: Dec 1898
birthplace: Massachusetts
relationship to head-of-household: Son
spouse name:
spouse titles:
spouse birth place:
father name:
father titles:
father birthplace: Massachusetts
mother name:
mother titles:
mother birthplace: New York
race or color (expanded): White
head-of-household name:
gender: Male
marital status: Single
years married:
estimated marriage year:
mother how many children:
number living children:
immigration year:
enumeration district: 0502
sheet number and letter: 26A
household id: 501
reference number: 4
gsu film number: 1240649
image number: 00000502
Household Gender Age
parent Ward Thompson M
parent Ella M Thompson F
Howard L Thompson M
Bertram H Thompson M
Ralph S Thompson M
Margaret Scanlon F
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 Agawam, Hampden, Massachusetts
name: Ralph S Thompson
birthplace: Massachusetts
relationship to head of household: Son
residence: Agawam, Hampden, Massachusetts
marital status: Single
race : White
gender: Male
immigration year:
father's birthplace: Massachusetts
mother's birthplace: New York
family number: 242
page number: 11
Household Gender Age
parent Ward L Thompson M 40y
parent Alvina C Thompson F 44y
Howard L Thompson M 14y
Bertrand H Thompson M 12y
Ralph S Thompson M 11y
Lois A Thompson F 9y

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

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

1917 World War I Draft Registration
name: Ralph Sheridan Thompson
event: Draft Registration
registration date year range: 1917-1918
event place: Ludlow City no 7, Massachusetts, United States
gender: Male
birth date: 04 Dec 1898
birthplace: Blank, Blank, United States
country of citizenship: United States
nara publication title: World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards
nara publication number: M1509
film number: 1684521
digital folder number: 005216150
image number: 01794

'United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,' index and images, FamilySearch (familysearch.org/ pal:/ MM9.1.1/ KZN8-XCB : accessed 03 Dec 2012), Ralph Sheridan Thompson, .
U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
A World Undone: The Story of the Great War, 1914 to 1918

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 Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts
name: Ralph S Thompson
residence: Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts
estimated birth year: 1899
age: 21
birthplace: Massachusetts
relationship to head of household: Son
gender: Male
race: White
marital status: Single
father's birthplace:
mother's birthplace:
film number: 1820701
digital folder number: 4301098
image number: 00857
sheet number: 14
Household Gender Age
parent Ward L Thompson M 50y
parent Alvina M Thompson F 54y
Ralph S Thompson M 21y

1920 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

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

1924 Birth of Child
Ralph Sheridan THOMPSON was born 12 December 1924, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA (Indian Orchard)

Ralph Sheridan was 26 years old.

1925 Birth of Child
Harry Roy THOMPSON was born 7 September 1925, Holtwood, Pennsylvania, USA

Ralph Sheridan was 26 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)

Springfield, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1929
Name: Ralph S Thompson
Gender: M (Male)
Residence Year: 1929
Street Address: 30 Eldridge av
Residence Place: Springfield, Massachusetts
Occupation: Clec
Spouse:
Lillian B Thompson
Publication Title: Springfield, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1929
ancestry.com

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

1930 South Hadley, Hampshire, Massachusetts
name: Ralph S Thompson
event: Census
event date: 1930
event place: South Hadley, Hampshire, Massachusetts
gender: Male
age: 31
marital status: Married
race: White
birthplace: Massachusetts
estimated birth year: 1899
immigration year:
relationship to head of household: Head
father's birthplace: Massachusetts
mother's birthplace: New York
enumeration district number: 46
family number: 4
sheet number and letter: 17A
line number: 15
nara publication: T626, roll 913
film number: 2340648
digital folder number: 4607010
image number: 00294
Household Gender Age
Ralph S Thompson M 31
spouse Lillian B Thompson F 28
child Ralph S Thompson M 5
child Harry R Thompson M 4
Robert Thompson M 1

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

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.

1932 Birth of Child
Donald Sheaffer THOMPSON was born 5 November 1932, Agawam, Massachusetts, USA (Feeding Hills)

Ralph Sheridan was 33 years old.

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 West Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts
Name: Ralph Thompson
Respondent: Yes
Age: 38
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1902
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: West Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts
Street: Riverdale
House Number: 490
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: Agawam, Hampden, Massachusetts
Residence in 1935: Agawam, Hampden, Massachusetts
Sheet Number: 10B
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 285
Household Members:
Name Age
Ralph Thompson 38
Lillian B Thompson 39
Ralph Thompson 15
Harry Thompson 19
Donald Thompson 9
1940 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

Springfield, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1940
Name: Ralph S Thompson
Gender: M (Male)
Residence Year: 1940
Street Address: 490 Riverdale
Residence Place: Springfield, Massachusetts
Occupation: Elec
Spouse:
Lillian B Thompson
Publication Title: Springfield, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1940
ancestry.com

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)

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.

Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1945
Name: Ralph S Thompson
Gender: M (Male)
Residence Year: 1945
Residence Place: Holyoke; South Hadley; Chicopee, Massachusetts
Occupation: Tel Opr
Spouse:
Lillian B Thompson
Publication Title: Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1945
ancestry.com

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 - West Springfield, Massachusetts
Name: Ralph S Thompson
Age: 51
Birth Date: abt 1899
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Massachusetts
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Residence Date: 1950
Home in 1950: West Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA
Dwelling Number: 103
Household Members Age Relationship
Ralph S Thompson 51 Head
Lillian B Thompson
48 Wife
Harry R Thompson
24 Son
Donald S Thompson
17 Son
1950 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

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.

1957 Death of Spouse/Partner
Lillian Barbara SHEAFFER died 5 June 1957, Montgomery, Massachusetts, USA

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 Death
name: Ralph Sheridan Thompson
prefix:
suffix:
event: Death
event date: 08 Jul 1983
event place: Indian River, Florida, United States
gender: Unknown
age: 84
race: White
estimated birth year:
source file: FDI12.txt
source file line number: 336415
source cd number: FDI12
certificate number: 64261
volume number:
notes:
other death info:
Florida, Death Index, 1877-1998

THOMPSON, RALPH 04 Dec 1898 Jul 1983 84 32960 (Vero Beach, Indian River, FL) (none specified) Massachusetts 014-03-3577
familysearch.org (Mormon Genealogy Records)
Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org: How to Find Your Family History on the World's Largest Free Genealogy Website

The Sunday Republican
Springfield, Massachusetts
July 10, 1983

Searching For Your Ancestors in Historic Newspapers

Grave

Agawam Center Cemetery
Agawam, Massachusetts, USA (Feeding Hills)

Photo taken by us

Obituary
RALPH THOMPSON VERO BEACH

Services for Ralph Sheridan Thompson, 84, of 2191 Eighth St , were held Sunday at Strunk Funeral Home chapel. A violin maker, owner and operator of Thompson's Radio and TV Repair in Sebastian, and an Indian River County resident for more than 40 years, Mr. Thompson died Friday at Indian River Memorial Hospital. Survivors include his wife, Irene J. Thompson of Vera Beach; three sons, Ralph S Thompson Jr of West Springfield, Mass , Harry R Thompson of Sebastian, and Donald S Thompson of Micco; two stepdaughters. Holly M Bair of Vero Beach, and Velma Stellman of Kenansville; and several grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

Florida Today
Cocoa, Florida
July 12, 1983

FINAL RESTING PLACE