Obituary of Ronald Clayton Thompson

THOMPSON, Ronald Clayton – Age 72, of Lapland, Lunenburg Co., passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

Born May 25, 1952, in Sydney, he was a son of the late John Bernard and Mary Annette (Graham) Thompson.

Ron met Debbie at St FX, and after hitchhiking from Cape Breton to the South Shore to visit Debbie, they settled there and raised their three boys.

When he was hired as a Probation Officer with Community Services, Bridgewater was introduced to Ron's Cape Breton humor and charm. He spent 30 years there and retired as a Senior Probation Officer with the Dept. of Justice.

Ron firmly believed in giving back to the community through volunteering and leadership, and wanted to help those without their own bootstraps to pull up.

One of his proudest accomplishments was co-founding the South Shore branch of Big Brothers/Big Sisters with Bill Middleton.

Ron served as an Executive of the Ball hockey league and the Lunenburg County slow pitch league and on the Board of Directors of minor league baseball. He loved the community where he and Debbie raised their children. He spent 40 years with the Lapland Fire Department and several years as its Chief.

Ron loved fishing, hunting, and spending time with his boys and friends at the camp; he always looked forward to the last Friday of October. He was a proud member of CLOGS (Camperdown and Lapland Old Guys Society) and enjoyed their events and cherished the support they provided for each other.

He loved sports, playing hockey, baseball, basketball, slow pitch, and pickleball.

Ron was a proud Cape Bretoner and loved to tell stories. Some of his sons' favorites were when he unknowingly opened the door for Tina Turner, the crew at the French Club, stopping traffic on George Street while helping a friend, running wild at Red Islands, and working Campus Security at St FX.

Surviving is his loving wife of 50 years, Deborah Anne (Eikle) Thompson; his children, Clayton Thompson, Yellowknife, NWT; Eric Thompson (Samantha Green), Wileville; Patrick Thompson (Haley Smith), Pine Grove; grandson, Enver Thompson, Pine Grove; brothers, Stephen Thompson (Larry McNary), New York State; Graham (Linda) Thompson, Glace Bay; brother-in-law, Donald Eikle (Marlene Hiltz), Pine Grove; several nieces and nephews.

By request, there will be no visitation at the funeral home. Ron's family invites you to join them in celebrating his life on Thursday, May 29th from 2-5 p.m., at the Bridgewater Legion (78 Churchill St. Bridgewater).

A private family interment of ashes will take place in the Lapland Community Cemetery, Lapland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Big Brothers – Big Sisters of the South Shore, or the South Shore Regional Hospital – Oncology Department.

Arrangements entrusted to Sweeny’s Funeral Home, 35 York Street, Bridgewater, where online messages and condolences may be made by visiting www.sweenysfuneralhome.com.