Fall Journal (Post Conclave Issue)

TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE

City of Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and Inspections as a housing code inspector for more than 30 years. He enjoyed his profession and made many friends. Thompson always said his faith kept him going. He continued his spiritual commitment in various capacities at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. He served as a vestry member, a lay reader and a sub-deacon. He could regularly be seen working with youth, whether at the an- nual holiday bazaars or driving a school bus for the school that was once part of the church. Brother George Thompson, Jr. is pre- ceded in death by his parents and his only child Stephen. He is survived by his sister; granddaughter, Chatney Lip- schatz; and a host of relatives, friends and colleagues.

faced with many challenges that tested his faith and resolve, but he survived them all. His baby sister, Yvette Veda, died in 1956 from bronchial pneumonia at only 8 months old. He took her death hard. Thompson’s biggest challenge came as a 16-year-old in 1964, when while com- ing home from Christmas Eve church service, the car he was riding in was involved in an accident, leaving him in a coma for seven weeks. The only person in the crash who was injured, he had broken glass in his face, a broken right clavicle, a lung contusion and was para- lyzed on his right side. The doctors said he might never use his right side again. His parents kept a 24-hour prayer/care vigil at his bedside in Germantown Hospital. His mother stopped work- ing and spent the days at his bedside until George Sr. relieved her after work and remained at his bedside overnight. Thompson was transferred to Magee Rehabilitation Center in March 1965 and was released in April. Thompson attended Hampton Insti- tute (now University) where his par- ents, sister and other family members had matriculated. He graduated from Hampton in May 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He worked for the

George E. Thompson, Jr. 1948–2019 Philadelphia Housing Code Inspector

George “Sparky” Thompson Jr. en- tered the Chapter Invisible on Friday, July 26, 2019 at the age of 71. He was a 1976 initiate of the Philadel- phia (PA) Alumni

Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi ® . George E. Thompson, Jr. was born July 4, 1948, in Philadelphia, PA the second of three children born to George E. Thompson Sr. and Irene C. Robinson Thompson. He was nicknamed “Sparky” at birth. He attended the historic Logan Demonstration School and Jay Cooke Junior High School and gradu- ated in 1966 from Central High School. Thompson was outgoing, active and popular as a teen. He was a member of Central’s basketball and baseball teams and participated in the Boy Scouts and the Wissahickon Boys Club. He was always a spiritual person and at a young age became active in St. Barn- abas Episcopal Church, where he served as an acolyte. As a youngster, he was

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THE JOURNAL ♦ FALL 2019 | 195

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