William Thompson

William Lawrence Thompson, 72, of Harrisburg, died March 6 in CMC-NE, after a brief illness.
A lifelong Charlotte-area resident, Mr. Thompson spent his career as a pharmacist, a profession he practiced with pride, care and integrity for 40 years. Early on, he worked at Harris Drugs and Eckerd Drug, before joining K-Mart, where he spent 25 years. He worked for Bi-Lo Pharmacy and Bloom Pharmacy before retiring in 2008.
Working often in lower-income neighborhoods, it was not uncommon for Mr. Thompson to reach into his own pocket to pay for prescriptions for faithful customers who couldn’t afford to pay. They always paid him back. On the day he retired, on the way home for the final time, Mr. Thompson dropped off a prescription for a homebound customer.
Away from the office, Mr. Thompson’s true passion was bird hunting, usually with one of his favorite vintage double-barreled shotguns. With friends, Mr. Thompson hunted quail and ducks, always with the dogs he loved to train. In later life, Thompson discovered pheasant hunting in the Midwest and made annual treks to South Dakota and Nebraska. His last hunting trip was in December, when he and his son Parker drove with several friends to Nebraska.
Mr. Thompson could often be found skeet shooting on Sunday afternoons or perusing gun stores and pawn shops, in search of an unique or antique gun that caught his eye. In retirement, he frequently volunteered as a driver for Meals on Wheels.
Thompson was married for 43 years to Eleanor Logan Thompson, a Tarboro, N.C., native.
Mr. Thompson was the valedictorian of the Class of 1961, Harding High School in Charlotte. He graduated from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy in 1968.
He was preceded in death by his father, Hazel Query Thompson, and his mother, Nancy Taylor Thompson.
In addition to his wife, Eleanor Logan Thompson, he is survived by a daughter, Julia Thompson Williams (Cole), of Durham; and a son, James Parker Thompson (Christina), of Concord. Also, three grandchildren: Regan and Kendall Williams and Riley Thompson.
The family would like to thank the many friends who called and visited Mr. Thompson during the last weeks of his illness. They put a smile on his face and cheered him up during the darkest times.
A memorial service will be held at Harrisburg Presbyterian Church, 4815 Highway 49S, Harrisburg, N.C. 28075, on Wednesday, March 11, at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service in the Fellowship Hall.
Memorials may be made to Harrisburg Presbyterian Church or the charity of your choice.

Hartsell Funeral Home is serving the Thompson family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com