Mr. Robert Douglas Thompson, 84, husband of Mary Cecil Jones Thompson of Burgin, Ky., passed away on Wednesday, May 23, 2012.
Robert was born on March 8, 1928 in Gratz, Ky., Owen County, to the late D.W. and Jessie Criswell Thompson. On Sept. 11, 1951, he married Mary Cecil Jones and they had two children.
Robert graduated from Burgin Independent School, where he played varsity basketball, football and was a member of Boy Scout Troop No. 44. He attended Centre College for two years, and attended and graduated from Georgetown College in 1950 with a degree in business administration. He is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
After college, he moved back home to Burgin and began working as bookkeeper at Citizen’s Bank and Trust Co. where his father was president. Robert soon was promoted to assistant cashier, then head cashier and vice president in 1968. In 1984, he became president and chairman of the board of Citizen’s Bank and Trust Co. Robert also was owner of McCrosky and Thompson Insurance Agency in Burgin, a 50- year business begun by his father. In 1991, Citizen’s Bank was sold to Farmer’s National Bank. Robert remained an active board member until age 70 and also served as an advisory board director for Farmers National Bank for several years.
Robert owned Southwestern Farm on Buster Pike where he was a part-time farmer. He was a member of Kentucky National Guard, 1st Lieutenant, retiring after 12 years, no months, and no days. He learned to fly an airplane and was a member of the Burgin Lions Club. He was co-owner of Kentucky River Marble and treasurer of the board of directors, a member of Kentucky Bankers Association and a Kentucky Colonel. Robert was a member of Burgin Baptist Church from 1935 to 2002, serving as trustee and treasurer. Since September 2002, Robert has been a member of Harrodsburg Baptist Church.
Robert was treasurer for Burgin School for 20 years and Burgin City Clerk for eight years. He was instrumental in getting the City of Burgin connected onto the Harrodsburg waterline and when Pleasant Hill Drive was developed, he named the new subdivision and had the water line installed. He was a volunteer fireman for the City of Burgin. Robert was named the Burgin Independent School Outstanding Alumni for 2012 and will be honored at the high school graduation on May 25.
Robert was a Christian gentleman who always devoted himself to his church, his family and toward the betterment of the Burgin community. He was a loving, faithful and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was a respected man of the highest character and integrity, with a humble and generous heart.
Robert is survived by his loving wife of 60½ years, Mary Cecil Thompson; two children, Susan Douglas Thompson Barrington (John) of Burgin, Ky., and Robert Cecil Thompson of Pompano Beach, Fla.; one granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth T. Barrington Dawson (Cliff); and one great-granddaughter, Kyndall Elizabeth Dawson.
Services will be 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Harrodsburg Baptist Church. Visitation will be 2-5 p.m. Saturday and after 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the church.
Ransdell Funeral Chapel in charge.
