Flemming Funeral Home

Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Lora Della Riley Thomspon (5-2-1929 – 8-26-1999); parents, Robert E. Thompson and Mary Emily Sauls Thompson of Monticello; daughter, Emily Pearl Thompson Grossman of Lakeland, Florida, and brother, Charles Theodore Thompson of Tilton.He is loved and survived by his daughter, Barbara Jean Thompson Roy (Stanley C.) of Watertown, Tennessee; son, Robert Flemming Thompson, Jr. of Tallahassee, Florida; son-in-law James Edward Grossman of Lakeland, Florida; grandchildren, Robert Flemming Thompson, III (Lynda Nguyen), Benjamin James Grossman (Mary Alice McElheney), Andrea Lora Grossman, Stephanie Brooke Thompson and Christina Denise Thompson, and numerous nieces, nephews, friends (including the Hardee’s gang) and neighbors.Bob lived 91 years and was blessed to live a full life, where and how he wanted. He was active physically and mentally 89 of his 91 years. He was born in Columbia and grew up in Monticello, joined the Merchant Marines the week after high school graduation and then was drafted into the army during World War II. As a veteran, he went to Mississippi State on the GI bill, graduated from the college of engineering and became a lifelong Bulldog fan. He had a long and successful career as an engineer, working for Hughes Aircraft and then Raytheon at Tyndall AFB, where he retired after 41 years of service as an integral part of the Weapons System Evaluation Program. He served as chief scoring judge in every William Tell meet from 1958 until his retirement.He resided in Lynn Haven, Florida, for 55 years. He joined First Baptist Church of Lynn Haven and was baptized in 1962. He died peacefully at the home of his son in Tallahassee, Florida.Bob was an avid outdoorsman, teaching all of his children and grandchildren to love the water, boating, fishing and the woods. Boating, hunting and fishing were his lifeblood. He could take anything apart and fix it. In his eighties, he could still outwork everyone. He had a great bucket list of accomplishments, including catching a trophy sa...