Fred Clayton Thompson, of State College, PA passed away on January 15th, 2025. Fred was born on February 26, 1928 in Snow Shoe, PA to the late Edna (Oswalt) and Clayton A. Thompson. He moved to Bellefonte when he was in grade school. In June 1952, Fred married his beloved wife M. Joanne Bender of State College, whom he met at a dance. They had celebrated 64 years of marriage when Joanne passed away on December 8, 2016.
Surviving are his three children (spouses): Richard (Katherine) Thompson, Richmond, VA, Scott (Terri) Thompson, State College PA, Carol (David) Pepper, State College, PA. Also surviving are 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Fred was predeceased by his daughter, Marjorie (2011) and his daughter-in-law, Julie Thompson (2017) and five older sisters: Lucille, Margaret, Maxine, Tootie and Betty.
Fred graduated from Bellefonte High School in 1946 and then attended Penn State University where he majored in Electrical Engineering. He graduated from Penn State in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering (BSEE) degree and in 1958 with a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree (MSEE).
Some of Fred’s favorite leisure activities were fly fishing in Yellowstone National Park and spending time at the Five Point Hunting Club in Snow Shoe. He enjoyed singing, and in 1962 was a founding member of the Nittany Knights Barbershop Chorus and has been a charter member for over 60 years. He was a longtime PSU football season ticket holder and well as a Penn State Wrestling fan.
Fred lived his final 8 years at Juniper Skilled Nursing Facility. Fred was legally blind and was confined to a wheelchair. He never complained. He remained passionate about learning. He loved to talk about history and listened to educational audio books daily.
While at Juniper, Fred enjoyed his weekly men’s coffee gatherings, many regular visitors, watching PBS and the news. He loved the Juniper SNF staff and, they enjoyed his wit and humor.
Fred served in the US Army during the Korean conflict from 1950 to 1952, as an instructor to field grade officers at the Army Radar School at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Following military service in 1952, Fred had an extensive professional career and was employed as electronic’s engineer at the Martin Company in Baltimore MD.
In 1954 Fred and Joanne returned to State College, where Fred was employed by Haller, Raymond and Brown (HRB-Singer). He served in various positions there, including Director of Systems Group. In 1968 Fred co-founded Locus Inc. a defense electronics firm, located in State College and Alexandria VA and was President of Locus when the company was acquired by Kaman Corp. in 1986. He retired from Kaman-Locus in 1988.
Following retirement from Locus, Fred was active in the local business community, serving as an officer, board member, or consultant to local businesses including C-COR, HVS Technologies, Telebeam, Oberon, and C.A.R.E. Property Services. He also served as a board member with Service Corp. of Retired Executives (SCORE), Ben Franklin and Private Industry Council of Centre County (PICCC).
Fred was a long-time member of the State College Presbyterian Church where he served as Deacon, Trustee, Elder, Chairman of Boy Scout Troop 32 Committee, and Sunday School teacher. He was a member / contributor to Centre County Youth Services Bureau, Centre Foundation, Clearwater Conservancy, Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and the Civil War Round Table of Centre County. He was also a member of The Fred Club, a national organization for men named Fred.
As an undergraduate at Penn State, he was elected to Eta Kappa Nu, the Electrical Engineering Honor Society which is recognized around the globe as the one honor society that represents the highest values of the profession. He was also elected to Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, which is well-known among industry leaders and serves to mark exceptional academic and personal accomplishments. He was also a member of Sigma Nu, which is a social fraternity.
Fred stayed active with Penn State University, College of Engineering, by serving on the Alumni Council and Industrial and Professional Advisory Committee (IPAC). In 1986 he received the Outstanding Engineering Alumni Award, bestowed by the College of Engineering on graduates who have reached exceptional levels of professional achievement. He served as a member of the Mount Nittany Society, was President of the Penn State Engineering Alumni Society. Fred established a Graduate Fellowship for the Electrical Engineering department and served as a student mentor and graduate seminar instructor.
Most notably, Fred was known for his kind and quiet demeaner, his barbershop jokes and frequent sayings that his family dubbed as “Fredisms”. He was a caring and respected husband, father, grandfather, son, uncle, friend and colleague and advisor.
Fred is now singing with that big barbershop chorus in the sky.
The family would like to thank all of the staff of Juniper SNF who showed Fred extra kindness. Special thanks to his caregiver, Ellen from Home Instead for being like a daughter to Fred. Thank you to Grane Home Health and Hospice for their extra care of Fred in his last few weeks.
Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m., on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 South Atherton Street, State College.
Funeral service will be at 10 a.m., on Friday, January 24, 2025 at the State College Presbyterian Church, 132 West Beaver Avenue, State College.
Burial will be in Centre County Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be made to State College Presbyterian Church-132 W. Beaver Avenue State College, PA 16801 or to the charity of your choice.