William R. “Coach” Thompson, 72, of New Haven, born October 4, 1941 in Fairmont, N.C., to the late Musethel Thompson, entered eternal rest on June 29, 2014.
Thompson coached the New Haven Age Group Track Club for 35 years. and was considered a hero to many in the community. (Click here for a story about the results of some of his coaching.)
He leaves to cherish his memory; beloved wife, Joan Thompson; two daughters, Jacqueline Taft (Jonathan) and Vanessa Thompson; three grandchildren, Dominique Bowman, Paris Taft and Arianna Taft; brother, Gene Thompson (Shirley) of West Haven; two sisters, Shirley Jackson of Hamden and Barbara Turner of River Bend, NC; sister-in-law, Gladys Hardy (Leroy) of Wilmington, NC; niece, Anntonie Thorpe (Wesley, Jr) of Hamden; nephew, Harold Thompson of Charlotte, NC and a host of relatives and friends. Mr. Thompson retired from the United States Postal Service in 2004 after 42 years of service. He was currently employed at SCSU as a University Assistant. Coach Thompson has been involved with the New Haven Age Group Track Club for over 38 years. He was predeceased by his sister, Estelle McCown. A celebration of his life will take place, Monday, July 7, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church, 1324 Chapel Street, New Haven with calling hours, Monday at the church from 9 – 11:00 AM. Interment will take place in Beaverdale Memorial Park. Services by Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel Street, New Haven. To leave a message of comfort to the Thompson family, please visit, www.hkhfuneralservices.com.
Coach Thompson was an awesome coach and a positive male role-model to everyone he worked with. He demanded hard work and excellence. He was always involved in the community to find ways to make sure young people had access to the important work he did in New Haven and surrounding areas. God bless his family!