Edmund R Thompson

Ed admired General Ulysses S. Grant who won the Civil War in 1865

51

52

Volunteer/Activity: Southern Maine Medical
Senior Citizens Center
Kennebunk Beach parties
Artwork
Kennebunk Historical Society
Brickstore Museum

53

54

Happy Birthday Ed

Ed, dear man, husband, father, uncle and grandfather. Exemplary soldier and
patriot defender of his country. We love you, honour your memory and are
grateful to have walked by your side in our lives. Thank you so much for teaching
us how to live a good life and for helping us become successful adults.
Your children, Larry, Andy, Barb, Linda, Matt & Harry

56

Condolence Ed and his wife, the former Anne Ridenour Wheeler, retired to Kennebunk,
From: Jack Biddle ([email protected]) ME to live in the home he designed for more than 30 years. Ed continued his
Message: public service on the local Planning Commission, on the Board of the
He and my Dad were best friends at Western HS 1947, then again at Brickstore Museum, as President of AFIO New England, President of the
West Point 1952 and on through life. When my oldest son earned Kennebunk Historical Society and an active member of Church on the Cape in
nominations to Navy and West Point in 2013, we called Eddy to ask for Cape Porpoise. He edited and republished books by Kennebunk’s own
his advise. He said simply ‘there is no choice’. Jack IVth chose West Point. Kenneth Roberts and wrote historical fiction and spy stories set around the
A wonderful man and a Patriot. world. Ed and his late stepson Larry Wheeler even built a house together.
Jack Biddle III Ed enjoyed visits from family and friends, running, cooking, reading, writing
and ocean swimming (especially New Year’s Day) announcing “A day at the
beach without going in the ocean is a day wasted!”
Survivors include his wife Anne Thompson of Kennebunk; his sister, Elisabeth
Kirby of Lee’s Summit, MO; his sons, Andrew (Patricia) of Herndon, VA,
Matthew of Indian Mound, TN, Harry (Laurie) of Clarksville, MD; his daughter
Linda Grignon (Dennis) of Shawano, WI; step-daughter Barbara Hines
(Graham) of Melbourne, Australia; and 12 grandchildren (Ben, Amanda,
Daniel, Michael, Lynn, Jason, Brian, Marcus, Alexander, Angela, Julie and
Jacob), and eight great-grandchildren (Nicholas, Cody, Marcus, Hallie,
Lawrence, Genevieve, Theodore and Michaela).
He loved his country, his family and his friends without hesitation or
precondition. “That’s for damn sure!”

57