J. Arthur 'Art' Thompson, age 86, a resident of Wheaton IL, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 2, 2018. He was at home surrounded by his wife, some of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was born on July 13, 1931 in Exeter, NY to Paul and Madaline Thompson.

Art grew up in Norwich, New York, and graduated from Wheaton College. During the summer before his senior year, he married his sweetheart, Elizabeth 'Betty' Wheeler, starting their married life together in Wheaton, Illinois. He then received his Master of Science in Mathematics at the University of Illinois. The following year he worked at the United States Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, VA. After one year, they moved to Vestal, NY where Art began his 30 year career at IBM working in the Federal Division which included 2 years at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. His top secret work was used in stealth bombers and in identification systems in submarines. Art and Betty retired to the Adirondacks and wintered in Boca Raton, Florida before moving to Illinois in 2007 to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren.

Art started serving in church at age 15 as organist and continued in that role well into retirement. He also served as pianist, Sunday School teacher, chairman of the board of trustees, AWANA Commander and was instrumental in starting the Adirondack Bible Chapel.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Thompson, three children, Judy (Brad) Sommerfeld, James (Monika) Thompson and Joanne (Phil) King, five grandchildren, Mark (Jorie) Sommerfeld, Michael (Stephanie) Sommerfeld, Jason (Gianna) Sommerfeld, Jesse (Claire) Sommerfeld and Caleb Sommerfeld, five great grandchildren, Braden, Shaylene, Jason, Thaddaeus, and Joycelyn. He is also survived by his sister Ruth Fonseca and brother Charles Thompson. He was preceded in death by his sister Adele Thompson and brother Erving Thompson.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, January 7, 2018 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., in Wheaton, IL. A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 8, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Faith Baptist Church , 27W010 Parkway Dr, in Winfield, IL. Interment will follow at Wheaton Cemetery in Wheaton, IL.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Wheaton Christian Grammar School , 1N350 Taylor Drive, Winfield, Illinois 60190.