Joe Ervin Thompson

Joe Ervin Thompson of Mesquite, TX, entered the presence of the Lord on June 28, 2014. As a husband, father, brother, and grandfather, he modeled love, generosity, hard work, and commitment to his family and friends every day. Joe entered this world as the son of a farmer in East Texas near Mabank on June 5, 1930. He was one of the middle children of a family of eleven and was the fourth son of Rufus and Vera Thompson. Joe served in the 4th Armored Division of the Army during the Korean War where he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and was one of the few chosen to attend drill sergeant training school. He met the love of his life, Barbara Jean Check, as a young boy in Mabank, Texas, and they married on December 2, 1951. They were married for 63 years. Joe worked for several prominent companies in the wholesale food distribution industry.He particularly enjoyed working for Frito Lay (where he was a prize-winning salesman), and for Borden Milk, where he finished his career as a district manager.After retirement, he started his own lawn care business in which he worked with his brother and his grandsons.He truly enjoyed this phase of his life and loved being his own boss! Joe was very active in the Baptist church in his middle years and was ordained as a deacon at Fellowship Baptist Church.Most importantly, he believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and called upon Him as Savior. Joe was preceded in death by his mother, Vera ; his father, Rufus; his sister, Nadine; his brothers Horace and Willard, and his youngest daughter, Tanya Delgado. Joe is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara, daughters Jo Jeannine and husband Robert, Melanie and husband Michael, Ramona and life partner Joe; grandchildrenJoshua, Sarah, Phillip, Justin, Jennifer, Heather, and Christopher; and great grandchildren Savannah, Kaden, Angel, and Antonio. He loved his family, golf, and growing wonderful vegetables and tomatoes in his big backyard garden. Joe was, according to the Bible, a “mighty man” since he achieved 84 years, and a mighty man he was to all those who knew and loved him.He is and will always be greatly missed.