Bruce Thompson

Bruce Wayne Thompson, 80, died on Saturday, October 5, 2019 from injuries sustained when he was struck and killed in a motor vehicle accident on Bellingrath Road. He was as vibrant and strong at 80 as he was in his youth. He was taken from us way before his time as anyone who knew him can attest. Bruce was a long-time resident of Dauphin Island and Mobile, Alabama. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Hartman Thompson; his son and daughter-in-law, John and Dana Thompson; his three daughters and son-in-laws, Suzanne Bock, Joanne and Lindsay Shannon and Mary Anne and Mark Ellison; as well as his grandchildren, Elizabeth and John Thompson, Nolan and Dempsey Shannon and Holden and Carling Bock. He also left behind numerous cousins, Connecticut family, Coast Guard alumni and friends who loved him dearly. He was born in Norwich, Connecticut and lived in Willimantic until he was accepted to and graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1961. After tour of duty assignments in Hawaii and Miami, he trained to be a search and rescue pilot. He also served in Rhode Island, the Philippines, St. Louis and Mobile, Alabama where he retired as a Lieutenant Commander after 20 years of service. While serving in St Louis, he completed his MBA from Saint Louis University and started another successful career as a stockbroker/financial planner for Merrill Lynch. An informal memorial will be held at the Dauphin Island Little Red Schoolhouse (Welcome Center) on Saturday, October 12, 2019 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM located at 1016 Bienville Blvd on Dauphin Island. Memorials may be made in honor of Bruce to the Dauphin Island Cat Coalition at 1017 DeSoto Ave, Dauphin Island, AL 36528. Bruce could be found every evening for the past seven years riding his bicycle or driving in his red truck to feed the various feral cat communities on the Island. He could tell you a story about each and every one of them. The Cat Coalition helps spay and neuter these animals left behind by their prior owners.