FELTON - Captain USMC (Ret) James Lee Thompson, formerly of Rochester, N.Y., passed away Friday, Sept. 9, 2016. Captain Thompson was born in Montgomery, Ala., on March 30, 1930 and was the son of James Thomas Thompson and Jean Bacon, both deceased. He was a Corporal with "B" Company, 19th Infantry Battalion, USMCR, and was activated on June 28, 1950. He first worked at Camp Lejeune, N.C., to process inactive reservists ordered to active duty for the Korean War. When that task was completed, he was transferred to the 8th Marines as the 1st Battalion Administrative Chief and was promoted to Sergeant. He was later transferred to the 8TH Marines Regimental Headquarters as the Regimental Classification Chief, where he was meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant for his efficiency in keeping three battalions properly balanced with trained personnel. As a note, while with the 1st Battalion he made a cruise to the Mediterranean Sea and participated in landing exercises on Crete and on other islands. He also visited the Caribbean area for landing exercises. He was transferred to Long Beach, Calif., in 1952 where he served as Trainer and as Administrative Chief of a Marine Corps Reserve unit. In 1953 he was transferred to the Headquarters of the 11th Marines in the Republic of Korea where he served as the Regimental Classification Chief and Regimental Security Chief. He reported to the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., in 1955 where he performed as an Administration Chief for the Marine Corps Institute for the next three years. He also served as one of three staff NCO's assigned to the permanent parade Commander's staff for pubic ceremonies at the Marine Barracks. He met his wife, the former Melba J. Blanchard, at a parade and returned to Washington to be married. After another tour as Trainer and Administrative Chief of a Reserve unit in Mattydale, N.Y., he was transferred to the Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, S.C., where he served for two years as the Station's Provost Chief. His duties included that of being a small town police chief with 1,300 homes under his direct jurisdiction. In 1963 he was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps in Arlington, Va., where he assumed duties as a monitor for over 20,000 Marines for selecting assignments to schools and for assignments around the world, to balance Marine Corps needs. He was promoted to Warrant Officer in June 1966 and transferred to South Vietnam to be the S-1/Adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines in the area south of Danang. He returned home in 1967 and assumed duties as the Adjutant of the Marine Barracks, Naval Weapons Station, Yorktown, Va. While there he was selected to be a Lieutenant. He returned overseas in 1968 and was assigned as Adjutant of VMGR-152 on Okinawa. His final duty station was with Company "D", Marine Security Guard Battalion in Panama City, Republic of Panama. He served as the Adjutant for the company which had Marines stationed at American Embassies in Central America, South America and Mexico. He was able to visit all Embassy Marines in the area except Brazil. He was promoted to Captain while there. Captain Thompson retired on July 1, 1973 after completing 23 years in his Corps. He earned 15 decorations, including the Purple Heart, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V", the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Combat Action Ribbon during his service. He selected Delaware as his retirement home, graduated college from Delaware State University, and began working for the Delaware State Auditor of Accounts first as an Auditor then as an Audit Supervisor. He retired again in 1995. He served with the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs as a Governor appointed volunteer from 1970 to 2013, serving six one year terms as its chairman. He was one of a number of veterans that worked successfully to obtain a veterans home in Delaware. Captain Thompson was a volunteer at the Dover Air Force terminal as a passenger advocate for 17 years; stopping in 2012. He was a member of the Marine Corps League and served in various state level and local positions over the years. He was also a member of the Marine Corps Mustang Association, the American Legion in Harrington, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Second Division Association, the Vietnam Veterans of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, the AM Vets, and the Del Vets of Dover. Captain Thompson believed in young people and their abilities and served with the Boy Scouts of America in various volunteer positions from 1967 to his death, serving in positions as Webelos Leader, Troop 13 Scoutmaster, Assistant District Commissioner on Okinawa, and troop and pack committees. He was very proud that he was able to encourage over 25 young men to earn the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. He worked for many years coordinating and volunteering for the Marines Toys for Tots program in Kent County Delaware. This program provided toys to children in need at Christmastime. He is a Master Mason and a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite. Above all, Jim's love for his family, his Country, and his Marine Corps was central to his life. He is survived by his wife, Jo, of 58 years; daughter, Barbara Quigley and Mark, her husband, of Tampa, Fla.; son, Robert Thompson and his fiancée, Jodi, of Phoenix, Ariz.; daughter, Dr. Jeanne Nichols-Willey, and her husband, Randy Willey, of Felton; and son, LCDR Stephen Thompson USCG and his wife, Amy, of Pasadena, Md.; and seven grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Kathryn Nichols, Conor and Alison Quigley, and Aiden, Liam and Natalie Thompson. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m., Friday, Sept. 16, 2016 at Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road (Rt.10), Dover. Friends may call one hour prior. Interment will be in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Delaware Veterans Home, 100 Delaware Veterans Blvd., Milford, DE 19963, 302-424-6000. Letters of condolences may be sent and guest book signed at www.torbertfuneral.com.