Jack Long Thompson Sr.

JACK LONG THOMPSON (nee Jackie Long) died on December 3, 2024 in Dayton Ohio.  He was born January 19, 1933 in Dayton, Ohio and loved by his parents Ora and Bishop Thompson.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his seven Long siblings, and his wife of 64 years, Marlien Ann (nee Vaughn) Thompson.

He was baptized by Greater Allen AME Church in Dayton where he served as a Steward, Assistant Coach for the AAU basketball team, and Sunday School Superintendent.  He graduated from the Dayton Public Schools with the Class of 1953 from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.  He earned a certificate as a TV repair specialist and later attended evening classes to earn an Associates degree in Electrical Engineering from Sinclair Community College in Dayton.

He began his Department of Defense career in 1953 with his enlistment in the United States Army.  His United States Air Force civilian career began in 1956 and he would become an Electronic Mechanic and later supervisor for the Wright Patterson Air Force Base PMEL shop in 1967.  His career would conclude as an Equipment Specialist providing engineering and technical support for Passive and Active Electronic Components (1994-2024) and being the first African American to design and build aircraft simulators.  In March of 2024, he was honored for his 70 years of service with the Department of Defense.

He was president of the Westwood Neighborhood Council in the 1960s, loved biking (riding 2000 miles a year with his oldest son), collecting Lionel Model trains (storing many in original boxes!), and was an amateur photographer who could often been seen with two cameras hanging from his neck at his family’s events.  He spent several years as the main caregiver for his wife.

He is survived by his children Jacqueline Thompson (the late Ted Buttel) of Des Moines IA, Karen Thompson of Lathrup Village MI, Philip Thompson of Ottumwa IA, Jay (Kym) Thompson of Cincinnati OH, and a granddaughter KanDace Walters (Joshua) of Cincinnati OH and their children Cayleb, Julian, Ruby, and Jacqueline.

Graveside committal with military honors will be Wednesday December 11, 9:00 a.m. at Dayton National Cemetery, 4100 W. Third Street, Dayton, OH.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to “Blacks in Government Inc.” for its National Training Institute (bignti.org; 3005 Georgia Ave NW, Washington DC 20001).

Arrangements entrusted to House of Wheat Funeral Home.

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