Ross E. "Pete" Thompson

Ross E. (Pete) Thompson, 77, passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2020 at Lancaster Health and Rehabilitation. He was born in Kershaw County, SC on March 16, 1943 and was the son ofthe late John T. Thompson and Sarah Hunter Thompson Phillips. He was a long-time resident of the Flat Creek community and retired from Bowater Corporation after 37 years of
employment. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Robert Thompson.
Pete was a graduate of Mt. Pisgah High School where he found his love for sports and
competition. He organized and coached baseball and softball teams at his church. He was
involved in his daughters’ and grandsons’ sports activities. He was a great sport, never held
grudges, and was always willing to do what it took to excel. He had a lust for life unlike anyone
else. He plunged into any adventure and saw it as something to be enjoyed and conquered.
No obstacle was too difficult to address and overcome. His constant smile lit up a room. He
loved people and treated all of them the same.

Pete loved the Lord, his family, his church, his community, and his country. He doted on his five grandsons and had great adventures with them. Love and time, rather than material
possessions were his gifts to them. He was a member of Buffalo Baptist Church for over 60
years. He served in various capacities including RA leader, Sunday School teacher and
Director, Recreation Director, sound system technician, and deacon. He had a profound effect
on the youth of his church accompanying them to Ridgecrest and mission trips to the beach as
well as organizing camping trips for his “boys”. He also participated in home and foreign
mission trips carrying the gospel to areas outside his community.

Pete loved his country and served proudly in the United States Navy for four years and four
months during the Vietnam era. He served with the Buffalo-Mt. Pisgah Rescue Squad as an
EMT-I, Lancaster County Community Relations Committee, United Way of Lancaster County,
South Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief, and two terms on the Lancaster County Council. He had a servant’s heart.

He loved the family pond where family and friends gathered on special occasions, playing
Sequence and going on cruises with church friends, golfing, and camping with his children and
grandchildren. He was always in charge of having fun!

Pete is survived by his wife of 52 years, Frances Thompson; daughters, Kelli (Todd) Bowers of
Lugoff, SC, Mandy (Chris) Phillips of Heath Springs, SC; grandsons, Brandon Bowers, Alex
Bowers, Owen Phillips, Grant Phillips, and Heath Phillips; sister, Joyce Robinson; brothers-in-law, Jackie Campbell and Jack Montgomery; sisters-in-law, Jean Campbell and Lillie Mae
Montgomery as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, June 20, 2020, at 3:00 o’clock p.m., in the sanctuary of Buffalo Baptist Church. The Revs. Todd Montgomery and Larry Humphries will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military honors.

Those attending the service are asked to practice distancing in respect for others.

The family will acknowledge friends following the burial at the cemetery.

The service will be live streamed on Buffalo Baptist Church’s facebook page or you may tune to 89.5 FM in the church parking lot and listen to the service.

Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Thompson may be directed to Buffalo Baptist Church, 6390 Lockhart Road, Kershaw, S.C. 29067.

Baker Funeral Home is serving the Thompson family.

www.bakerfunerals.com