Nov. 18, 1927 — May 21, 2015

Mr. Quintin Sharon Thompson, 87, of Niles, Michigan died at 9:40 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2015, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana following a brief illness.

He was born on Nov. 18, 1927, in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania to Ellwood C. and Edna (Baker) Thompson. He was graduated from Herbert Hoover High School in San Diego, California and enlisted in the United States Navy. His entire tour of duty was with the Hospital Corps, and he was discharged as a Veteran of World War II. He then attended Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington, served on the U.S. Forestry Service, and came to Chicago, Illinois to attend Moody Bible Institute and work at Scripture Press.

On June 27, 1959, at the First Baptist Church of Niles he married the former Melvina Marie “Mort” Ort. They served as Christian medical missionaries to Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo) for many years before returning to Niles. Quint was then employed at the South Bend Medical Clinic for 16 years prior to his retirement in 1992.

Quint was a member of the First Baptist Church in Niles. He enjoyed travelling throughout the United States, often camping overnight, and visiting relatives and friends along the way. He also enjoyed genealogy, and had self-published the book “Historical Charles blancher Thompson and History”.

On Dec. 29, 1997, his wife of 38 years, Mort Thompson preceded him in death. He was also preceded by his parents and siblings Russell Thompson, and Wilda Silverman, and half-siblings Martha Williams, Jacqueline Desper, Carrie Kurczh, and Raymond Wanzel.

Surviving family includes his children, Gail (Walter) Bliss, Kenneth (Mindy) Thompson, Larry Thompson, and Michael Thompson, all of Niles; grandchildren Ashley (Grant) Hageman, Caleb, Elisha, and Josiah Bliss, and Christopher, Kaylee, Kierstyn, Chelsea, and Mariah Thompson; and Quintin’s siblings Elizabeth “Betty” Miller of Jackson Mississippi, John Wanzel of San Tan Valley, Arizona, and Alice Nastasi of Delaware; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Quintin Thompson will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27, at the First Baptist Church with Pastor Jim Wing of the church officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by the United States Navy Honor Guard.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 until 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Contributions in memory of Quint Thompson may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children in honor of the treatment and cure of Quint and Mort’s son, Michael; or to the mission program of the donor’s church in honor of Quint and Mort Thompson’s mission service.

www.halbritterfunerals.com