http://obituaries.thedailystar.com/obituary/william-thompson-1931-2019-1072790420 A heck of a nice guy and a true professional... his engineering skills at IBM were well known. He was also always willing to help anybody with anything related to ham radio... he is missed.
William W. Thompson, W2MTA SK QCWA Number: 18792 William W. Thompson July 01, 1931 - February 16, 2019 CORTLAND - William Ward Thompson, W2MTA, formerly of Newark Valley, passed away on Feb. 16, 2019, in Cortland, with his call sign joining the many Silent Keys of Amateur Radio. He is preceded in death by his devoted wife of 63 years, Elizabeth (Miller) Thompson; and survived by four daughters, Julie (Ron) Sorcek, Denise (Steve) Wrinn, Patricia Thompson (Mark Simonson) and Renee (Matt) Kelahan; and five wonderful grandchildren, Kathleen (Antonio), Eric, Ruby, Casey and Cameron. Also surviving are his brother, Robert (Denise) Thompson; sisters-in-law, Betsy Miller and Helen Thompson; dear family friends, Bill and Rosalie Wright; many nieces and nephews; fellow radio hams and other community and public service associates. Bill was born July 1, 1931, in Oneonta, son of the late Ward and Dorothy (McQueen) Thompson. After graduating from Oneonta High School in 1949, he became an amateur radio operator as W2MTA in 1952, then joined the Marine Corps as a field radio operator during the Korean War, being discharged in 1960 as sergeant. Upon graduation from Hartwick College in 1957, he joined IBM as a flight test engineer at Broome County Airport (Binghamton) with later tasks as aerospace engineer/manager for 30 years in Owego, including the Saturn V/Apollo Manned Space Flight Awareness Program of the 1960s. He held numerous leadership positions in both IBM and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) over the years. He was a devoted member of Most Holy Rosary Church in Maine and its Council of The Knights of Columbus. Calling hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m., March 1, at MacPherson Funeral Home, 5 Whig St., Newark Valley. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., March 2, in Most Holy Rosary Church, 2586 Main St. (Route 26) in Maine. For those wishing to honor Bill's memory, kindly consider a donation to the Tioga County Rural Ministry, 134 North Ave., Owego NY 13827, or the Quarter Century Wireless Association Scholarship Fund at www.qcwa.org/scholarship-program.htm. Memories and condolences may be written in William's guestbook at macphersonfh.com. Published on February 22, 2019 http://obituaries.thedailystar.com/obituary/william-thompson-1931-2019-1072790420
