Former OFD Captain and WWII Veteran James Eldon Thompson was born on September 4, 1924.
He joined the Ottawa Fire Department on March 30, 1950, and retired on September 30, 1984.
Jim was also the father-in-law of ROFFA member Brian Truelove.
Peacefully, at Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital, with family by his side on Tuesday, February 4,2025 in his 101st year.
He was predeceased in 2010, after 66 years of marriage, by his beloved wife Ethel Evelyn (née Whyte). Loving father of Mel (Maria), Sharlyne (Brian Truelove), Karen (Bob McNeely) and Gail Childs. Proud grandfather of Chad, Brooke, Mark, Amber, Michael, Ben, Jim, Julie, Crystal, Jeff and 14 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Lester and Winston, as well as his sisters-in-law Joyce Thompson and Judy Thompson.
James was born on the family farm of Alonzo Thompson and Annie Baldwin, at Rupert, Quebec on September 24, 1924. He was one of 11 children (9 boys and 2 girls). In 1939 Nazi Germany invaded Poland and in 1942 at the young age of 18 James signed up to join the war effort, overseas, as a ship steward in the Navy. The ship he was assigned to, the Saint Stevens, was one of many escort/guard ships for the Navy’s supply ships.
After the war ended in 1945, James joined Hobbs Glass on Lisgar Street in Ottawa, and was gainfully employed for several years before joining the Ottawa Fire Department. He took a reduction in pay to join the Fire Department, but he knew that being a firefighter offered a good pension, and that is what he wanted. His fondest memory of firefighting was driving the pump truck, and not having to inhale any smoke. The best firefighting equipment to come out when he was serving was “Scott Air Pack”. It gave the firefighter continuous fresh air when needed, and would sound an alarm when the air was getting low. James had such good memories of those he worked beside. They were reliable and when they were fighting a fire, he felt confident because he knew they could handle the stress that comes with any call. James spent 34 years as an Ottawa Firefighter, retiring as a Captain.
The family wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Waterside Retirement for their many years of continuous care and support, as well as to Dr. R. Drake and the staff at Carleton Place Hospital for their care.
A visitation will be held at Capital Funeral Home and Cemetery, 3700 Prince of Wales Drive, Nepean on Monday, February 10, 2025 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm, and again on Tuesday, February 11 from 12 noon until time of service, which will be held in the Chapel at 1:00 pm, followed by burial. A reception will follow in the reception suites at the funeral home.
For those wishing, a donation to the Canadian Lung Association or Carleton Place Hospital would be appreciated.
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