Harold L. Thompson

April 8, 1949 – April 20, 2019

Harold Lee Thompson died on April 20, 2019 at his home in Danville, IN. He was born on April 8, 1949 to James Leslie and Imogene Isabelle (Rutan) Thompson in Libertyville, IL. He graduated from Paoli High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education from Purdue University in 1971.

On October 18, 1997, Harold married Rebecca Hill Fletcher.  Together they have two children, Craig (Angie) Kinzer and Chantel (Joshua) Muntain, five grandchildren Caleb, Madison, Zachary, Tirzah and Naomi, and numerous nieces and nephews. Harold is survived by his sister, Linda (Robert) Daming of Greenwood, IN.  He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Richard and sister Charlotte.

Harold worked for USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) for over 40 years. He began his career as a student trainee and he spent the first 18 years providing technical service to farmers mostly in southwest Indiana. For 19 years, until his retirement in 2008, Harold served on the NRCS management team as an area conservationist and assistant state conservationist. He was a dedicated public servant who had a passion for Indiana agriculture and he spent a lifetime helping farmers make their land more productive, sustainable and profitable. 

After he retired Harold continued to work as an agricultural liaison with several Soil and Water Conservation Districts and watershed groups. In his community, he was a member of the Hazelwood Christian Church, an Earth Team Volunteer for over 25 years, a 30-year volunteer certified Emergency Medical Technician, a 25-year 4-H Leader, and a long-time member of the Paoli Optimist Club. He served on the Wayne Township (Marion County) 4-H Advisory Board for 12 years (president for 3 terms) and as a director of the Marion County Fair Board for two terms. He was a member of Paoli’s Masonic Lodge 119 and a 51-year member of the Hoosier Chapter Soil and Water Conservation Society where he served as a director for 12 years (president 1998, 2018). 

Among Harold’s many awards are Purdue’s Agricultural Alumni Certificate of Distinction; the Governor’s Distinguished Hoosier Award; the Soil and Water Conservation Society’s Distinguished Fellow Award; Wayne Township Community Service Award; and Marion County Soil and Water District’s Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award.  

Harold loved to fish, hunt, and read, but most of all he loved helping others and spending time with his family and friends. He was known for his quick wit, his infectious smile, and his kind and compassionate spirit.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Weaver Randolph Funeral Home in Danville. Visitation will be on April 25 at Hazelwood Christian Church in Hazelwood, IN from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held on April 26 at 10 a.m. at the church and burial will follow in Roachdale Cemetery in Roachdale, IN.

In lieu of flowers, donations made be made in honor of Harold to the Indiana 4-H Foundation https://www.in4h.org/donation-form/ or the Hoosier Chapter Soil and Water Conservation Society’s Education Endowment, PO Box 77, Kingman, IN 47952 http://www.hoosierchapterswcs.org/.

The address of the church for Harold’s viewing and service is 9947 South County Road 0, Clayton, Indiana, 46118 (located south of US 40).   Flowers/memorials should be sent to the church.