Mr. John Alton Thompson " Carolina Wheel", Sr. age 64 of Elkin, passed away Sunday, August 21, 2011 at Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson. Mr. Thompson was born April 7, 1947 in Surry County to William Roy and Virginia Ruth Wood Thompson. He was devout Christian and co-pastor with his wife of Lighthouse Assembly. Mr. Thompson was a member of the Chowan Hawks Club. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, son and brother. Mr. Thompson was a retired truck driver with many years of service. He was preceded in death by his parents and one niece Lisa Thompson Kelly. Survivors include: his wife of 39 years Shonnie T. Thompson of the home; sons, John A Thompson and his wife Amanda of Elkin, Jeff Wiles and his wife Johanna of Plant City, FL, and Lynn Wiles and his wife Suzanne of Plant City FL; daughter, Jennifer W. Church and her husband David of Hamptonville; foster son, James Dowell and his wife Jackie of N. Wilkesboro; brother, Jerry Bill Thompson and his wife Audrey of Greensboro; grandchildren, Blake Thompson, Kyle Thompson, Haleigh Thompson, Chad Marshall, Chase Wilkes, Carson Wiles, Olivia Wiles, Garrett Church, Josh Church, and Corey Church; foster grandchildren, Jamie Dowell and his wife Christen, Matthew Dowell, and Andrew Dowell; one foster great grandchild, Abel Dowell. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in Elkin Funeral Service Chapel with Rev. Tim Brown and Rev. Revonda Anderson, Rev. Kenneth Richards, and Rev. Russ Nixion officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in St. Paul United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Elkin Funeral Service. The family requests that memorials be made to the Thompson Sports Scholarship Fund at Chowan University, One University Place, Murfreesboro, NC 27855 or to Lighthouse Assembly, c/o Robin Kennedy, PO Box 995, Elkin, NC 28621. The family would like to thank the staff of Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home, his hospice caregivers Anita, Jeanette, and Kathy, and to the many friends and family for their care.
