Carl Everett Thompson, Sr.

Carl Everett Thompson, Sr., age 87 of Athens passed away peacefully on Monday evening, September 18, 2023 at TerraBella (Athens Place) Memory Care in Athens.
Carl was a member of East Athens Baptist Church where he loved singing bass in the choir and as a member of the quartet “Brothers in Song”.  Carl loved traveling with his wife Helen in their RV, bowling, softball, woodworking and spending time with his family and best friends, Charles and Bea Gardner.
Carl played tackle on the Rossville High School’s 1954 Georgia State Champion football team.  He was an avid “Big Orange Fan”.  He worked for 23 years and retired from TVA in 1993, working in both the nuclear and hydro divisions.  He also worked with NASA on the Saturn C-5 rocket at the Redstone Arsenal.
Carl was preceded in death by his beautiful wife of 64 years, Helen Ball Thompson, parents, Rev. Carl H. and Ruth Thompson.   He is survived by his children, Carl E. (Jeanie) Thompson, Jr., Vicki (Larry) Ritchey and Sandy (Mark) Murdock, 7 Grandchildren; Nikki Murdock, Claire (Deriek) Hammontree, Ryan Murdock, Brett (Becca) Ritchey, Casey (Elisha) Cooper, Daniel (Renee) Ritchey and Courtney (David) Ward, 9 great grandchildren Clarabeth, Jonathan, Gideon and Zoe Ward, Eleni Hammontree, Mac, Cora, Ellie and Sue Helen Ritchey, sisters; Shirley Amburn and Bobbie Amburn, brother-in-law Rex T. Ball, sister-in-law Charlotte Ball and many nieces and nephews.
A special thank you for the kindness and compassionate care Daddy received while at TerraBella and by Hospice of Chattanooga.
The Family will receive friends at East Athens Baptist Church Friday, September 22, 2023, from 6:00- 8:00 PM.  Funeral services will be held ­­­­Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 1:00 PM with the Rev. Jason Robertson and Rev. Mike Dannel officiating.  Graveside services will be Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 2:30 PM Beulah Chapel Church Cemetery in Niota.  Memorial contributions may be made to Samaritans Purse c/o Samaritanspurse.org
Those unable to attend may send condolences to https://www.laycock-hobbs.com/obituaries/carl-thompson-sr
Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.