Frederick E. Thompson, 74, of Otto, NC, passed away Monday, March 21, 2022, surrounded by his wife and children.
Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, an Army veteran stationed for four years at the Herzo Base in Germany, he was a morse-code interceptor for the Army Security Agency (ASA). He returned to Ohio with his young family and entered the building supply business working his way to managing home supply centers in Celina, Lakeview and Dayton.
After moving to St. Petersburg, FL, in 1985, he worked as a truss sales manager and then became a partner in a commercial roofing company. In 1990, Fred saw the need to help disabled veterans. In 1991, he founded Accessibility Services Inc., whose goal was to enable the severely disabled regain their independence through technology. This led to the creation of the AutonoME, an environmental control tool with augmentative and alternative communication to be used in VA hospitals and private homes across America.
During his business endeavors and successes, Fred remained a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. As the anchor of his devoted family he listened, advised, supported and encouraged everyone’s dreams and adventures. Recently, Fred retired to the Smoky Mountains to enjoy his favorite hobbies including golfing, cuckoo clock restoration, beer brewing, playing the saxophone and perfecting his fine wood craftsman skills in his GrandPaw’s Workshop making exquisite wooden keepsakes for his family.
Survivors include his wife of 18 years, Margaret Wirsig Thompson; a son, Cody E. Thompson (Craig) of Largo, FL; two daughters, Heather L. Giordano of Ft. Myers, FL and Dawn A. Pasqualone (Robert Soltis) of Clearwater, FL; a stepdaughter, Lisa Bartell Swiger (Chad) of Hudson, FL; a stepson, Brice Green (Beth) of St. Petersburg, FL; a brother, John W. Thompson, Jr. (Beverly) of Punta Gorda, FL; and ten grandchildren, Danielle, Haley, Joe, Conner, Shelby, Nick, Peighton, Vaughn, Silas and Walker. Fred is preceded in death by his parents, John W. Thompson, Sr. and Evelyn Patricia Thompson, a brother, James Thompson and his first wife, Penny A. Edgington Thompson, all from Dayton, Ohio and a stepdaughter, Leslie A. Bartell of St. Petersburg, FL.
A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, April 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2155 Northpoint Pkwy, Lutz, FL 33558.
In lieu of flowers, charitable donations in Fred Thompson’s honor can be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation (https://dogood.t2t.org/campaign/in-honor-of-fred-thompson/c399202). An organization he supported which honors our military and first responders who make the supreme sacrifice of life and limb for our country. Your donation will go towards the “Let Us Do Good Village”, a community of mortgage-free homes for Veterans and First-Responders and their families, located in Land O’ Lakes, FL.
Services provided by Asheville Mortuary Services in Asheville, NC.