It was 'Thirty' last night for a newspaperman who spent a lifetime in the composing room and front office when Charles J. Thompson died suddenly.

Mr. Thompson, business manager of the Register-News, would have been 70 years old December 5. Although in failing health for 10 years, he worked on the last day of his life at the job he loved -- getting out the daily newspaper. Death occurred at 10:30 p.m. at his home, 115 N. 13th Street.

Mr. Thompson began his newspaper career as a small boy carrying a paper route for the Mt. Vernon News. He was still a boy when he went into the composing room as a 'printer's devil' and became a journeyman printer as a youth. He was business manager of The News at the time it was consolidated with The Register to form The Register News in 1920, and has been with the newspaper ever since.

He served in the Army during World War I and had been active in veterans affairs since. He was a past commander of the local American Legion Post, and served a number of terms on the post executive committee.

A long-time member of the Elks, he was a past Exalted Ruler of the Mt. Vernon Lodge. His other civic service includedmembership on the grade school board and as a draft board adviser. Mr. Thompson was a member of First Community Church and the local Masonic order.

He was born December 5, 1889, in Dubois, Illinois, the son of Ezekiel and Anna (Hoover) Thompson. His father was a veteran of the Civil War.

He was married in 1918 to Ruth Dodds, who survives.

They have two sons, Robert K. of The Register-News advertising staff and William D., a member of the Mt. Vernon junior college faculty, and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Myers Chapel. The Rev. Andrew Caraker will officiate and burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The body will lie in state at the chapel where friends may call after 4 p.m. today."

Source: Mt. Vernon Register News
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 1959
Submitted by "Family Links" - March 28, 2002