Date Of Birth: October 8, 1919
Date Of Death: February 11, 2007

Ernest E. Thompson, Sr., long-time pastor of Third Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), died on February 11th, 2007 at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sarah Darsey Thompson.Dr. Thompson received his B.S. degree from Georgia Southern University and taught at Columbus (GA) High School prior to being drafted into military service in 1942. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served his country for more than four years on active duty with the 99th Infantry Division, which included the last three battles in Europe.Upon returning home in 1946, he earned the Master of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees from the School of Religion at Butler University, and in 1978 he earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from Christian Theological Seminary.He served as Assistant Minister of Peachtree Christian Church in Atlanta, GA and as Senior Minister of First Christian Church in Macon, GA. He returned to Indiana in 1955 to serve as Senior Minister of Central Christian Church in Elkhart and moved to Indianapolis in 1961 to serve Third Christian Church as Senior Minister for twenty years. Following his retirement, he served five interim ministries in Kentucky, Ohio and Georgia.Dr. Thompson retained his commission in the U.S. Army after World War II and transferred it to the U.S. Army Chaplaincy in 1955. He served many years as a Chaplain in the Indiana National Guard and as State Staff Chaplain. He retired from the Army in 1979 with the rank of Colonel.He was recognized as a Distinguished Hoosier by the State of Indiana and in 1981 was made a Kentucky Colonel. He was a dedicated member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club in Indianapolis, with fifteen years of perfect attendance.In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Barbara A. Duch of Fort Wayne, Sarah J. Norwood (Ralph) of Wellesley Hills, MA, Pamela T. Green (Tom) of St. Petersburg, FL and E. Edward Thompson, Jr. (Diane) of Glen Ellyn, IL and six loving grandsons, M. Matthew Duch of Bethesda, MD, Jonathon P. Duch of Indianapolis, Scott E. Norwood of Boston, MA, Kelcy T. Green of St. Petersburg, FL, E. Alexander Thompson and W. Christopher Thompson, both of Glen Ellyn, IL and two sisters, Okie Harris and Ruth Gordon, both of Savannah, GA.Funeral services will be held in the Milner Chapel of Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, on Thursday, February 15th at 2:00 PM, with calling starting at 12:30. Internment will follow in Crown Hill Mausoleum. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 130 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46208 or to the ParkinsonÂ’s Awareness Association of Central Indiana, 4755 Kingsway Drive, Ste 333, Indianapolis, IN 46205.