Wilbur "Joe" Thompson

Wilbur “Joe” Edward Thompson passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at the age of 66. His father, Harvey “Jed”; his mother, Louise (Talarovich); his sister, Tina; his brother, Randy; a nephew and a great-nephew; and his wife, Terry (Russell), preceded him in death. He is survived by his stepdaughter, Kelly Anderson, and his two grandchildren, Preston Anderson (Lauren) and Miranda Anderson, as well as his three brothers, Jerry (Rebecca), Dennis (Denise), and Harvey (Kelly), and his sister, Dixie (George) Schlink, along with many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews Joe was born to Jed and Louise Thompson on February 9, 1959, in Martins Ferry, OH. As a child, the family moved to Northwest Indiana, and he attended William A. Wirt High School in Gary. Throughout his life, he worked at various times as a truck driver, bouncer, bartender, and, eventually, he worked at Teledyne in La Porte, IN, for over 20 years. In June 1986, he married Terry Russell and became the stepfather of her daughter, Kelly, and the two developed a relationship equal to that of any father and daughter. For nearly 38 years, Terry and Joe were virtually inseparable until her passing in April of 2024. They spent many years attending local car shows, winning awards for his yellow-flamed 1969 Mustang. They spent countless weekends together going to karaoke, having dinner with friends, and just going for a drive. Joe is known by all to be a loving husband and caring friend to everyone. He was always quick with a joke and especially a funny story about him pulling pranks with his brothers, or being friends with a young Michael Jackson. At home, Joe enjoyed riding his motorcycle and spending his time watching TV shows like Cops, WWE Raw, Smackdown, and any show that showcased or rebuilt cars. The family always enjoyed their holiday celebrations together. Even though it was nearly impossible to get him a gift, he was happiest with simple things like candy and especially a fruit basket, which would probably be eaten by the end of the evening. The family would like to express gratitude to his partner, Colleen Sullivan, who, in the final months of his life, helped to brighten his dark days and keep him out and enjoying life. As per his wishes, Joe’s family has elected to hold a Celebration of Life on Sunday, February 22nd, at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox, IN, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Wilbur "Joe" Thompson

February 9, 1959 - January 27, 2026