George Gere Thompson ’42

George, son of W.N. Thompson 1908 and father of J.B. Thompson '71, died Nov. 21, 2004, at Heritage House in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

He prepared at Phillips Exeter Academy. At Princeton he earned honors in chemical engineering, joined Tower Club, and roomed with lifelong friend Jack Ormond. George's "memorable activities" included varsity football and the Triangle orchestra.

During World War II, George supported the war effort as a petroleum refinery engineer before enlisting in the Marines. During his 31-year professional career George made his mark in the petroleum, natural gas, and chemical industries. He retired in 1978 as technical superintendent of Allied Chemical's nylon intermediates plant in Hopewell, Va.

In 1947 George married Betty Skuse. She blessed him with three sons, Jim, Bill, and Dave. Education and social concerns had been dominant themes in both the Skuse and Thompson families. Following those family themes, Betty returned to college to prepare for teaching in the Peace Corps with George. In 1978, two years after Betty's death, George joined the Peace Corps and spent eight years teaching chemical engineering at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand. The institute awarded George an honorary Ph.D. in 1992.

The class extends deepest condolences to George's surviving son, Bill; to Jack Ormond; and to his partner, Margaret Anderson.

The Class of 1942