Obituary of Alfred Eugene Thompson

Alfred E. "Geno" Thompson ~ 76 Vancouver, Washington April 25, 1939 ~ January 18, 2016 Alfred Eugene (Gene, Geno) Thompson age 76, of Vancouver, WA passed away on January 18th, 2016, at home with his family holding his hands whispering their love as he left. Funeral Service will be held at Willamette National Cemetery: 11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd. in Portland, OR. on Feb. 8th at 10:30 am. Celebration of life will follow at American Legion Post 14: 4607 NE. St. James Road in Vancouver, WA. From 12 pm to 3pm Monday, Feb. 8th. Alfred was born in Riverside, CA. to Edna Mae and Eugene Aaron Thompson on April 25, 1939. He went to High School at Pleasant Hill, where he developed a keen skill at boxing. He then persuaded his mother to sign the papers and joined the Navy at age 17, where he furthered his education and skill in Boxing. He married Bernagene Ivey in 1958, and was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1960 and moved to Vancouver, WA to work at Fort Vancouver Plywood in 1960, when they started a family: Brenda Lee, Tommy Eugene and Carmen Leone. Alfred went Professional as a boxer, fighting at class: light-middleweight, around 1962. He was known as Gene “Wildcat” Thompson and was listed in the Ring Magazine with Cassius Clay at one time, as an up and coming boxer. He left this career to concentrate on family when he started working at Boise Cascade Paper Mill in 1963 as a Boiler Tender. Where he became a representative for his fellow employees as a Union Rep. He often felt the need to train other people using his boxing skills, when he felt necessary. Always one for wanting to find excitement, he started to race cars at the “Roundy Rounds” in Jantzen beach until that was torn down around 1970. But he continued his love of racing at the drag strip at Portland Intl. Raceway, where he raced his cars down the strip, with motors built by his son Tom. He enjoyed racing against his son and friends. He enjoyed shooting trap, hunting, Billiards and loved to fish. While he has lost a lot of family and friends along the way, his last days were spent passing the time by with his remaining family and friends at the Plainsman and Sherris restaurant. He lived life to the fullest, had a tender heart and certainly lived life his way. Alfred is survived by his brother Bill Thompson, Daughter Brenda Miller, Son Tommy Thompson, Daughter Carmen Zimmerman, along with over 8 grandchildren and over 8 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his Father Eugene, Mother Edna, Sister Patty. Appreciate and Live life to the fullest, tell your loved ones that you love them.