Bernard "Whitey" Ray Thompson, 77, of Bruin passed away late Sunday evening at the Good Samaritan Hospice Unit at Concordia.

Born in Butler, March 6, 1932, he was the son of the late David Henry and Edna May Husleton Thompson.

He retired from the former Glass Containers Corp. of Parker in 1992 as a glass machine operator. He also was a laborer at the Bruin Elementary School and at Service Master.

A member of VFW Post 7073 at Parker and the American Legion Post 488 in East Brady, Whitey served in the Korean conflict with the U.S. Army.

He enjoyed family time, fishing, cooking and playing cards.

He is survived by his ex-wife, Esther O. Miller Thompson Hemmerling; two sons, Raymond "Ray" (Dee) Thompson of Slippery Rock and Rickie "Rick" J. Thompson of Bruin; three sisters, Charolette (William) Lauer of Parker, Jean (Raymond) Kriebel of Parker and Caroline Rodgers of Butler; five grandchildren, Joe (Natalie) Thompson, Kayla (Ryan) Smith and Sarah, Megan and Ryan Thompson; one great-grandchild, Meredith Patricia Thompson; as well as a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Verna Patten and Helen Thompson; and a grandchild, Michael Paul Thompson.

<B>THOMPSON</B> — Friends of Bernard "Whitey" Ray Thompson, who died Sunday, Sept., 6, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the <B>H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home</B>, Wayne Street, Parker. The funeral service will be held Thursday at the funeral home, and the time will be published Wednesday. Interment will be at the Allegheny Cemetery.Members of the VFW and American Legion Post of Parker will conduct military service prior to the funeral service.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bruin United Methodist Church, Slippery Rock United Methodist Church or the Good Samaritan Hospice at Concordia.Online condolences may be sent/viewed at www.buzardfuneralhomes.com.