James S.G. Thompson, Jr., “Jim”, 91, of McAlisterville, passed away peacefully, Sunday, May 8, 2016 at his home where he was born, was a dairy farmer for 40 years and enjoyed his retirement.
A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the Mexico Presbyterian Church, 6798 William Penn Hwy, Mexico with the Reverend Crystal Lyde officiating. Burial will follow at Lost Creek Presbyterian Cemetery, McAlisterville.
Friends may call from 4 – 8 pm with family present from 6 – 8 p.m. on Friday, May 13, 2016 at Brown Funeral Homes, Inc., 111 Westfall St., McAlisterville, and from 1:30 pm until the time of service, Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Mexico Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 36, Mexico, PA 17056 or the Fayette Lions Club, 158 Lions Den Drive, McAlisterville, PA 17049.
Jim was born October, 16th, 1924. He attended school at Fayette before transferring to Juniata Joint High School to study agriculture for his junior and senior year. Enjoying athletics, Jim played junior varsity and varsity basketball as well as baseball for his cousin Thompson Watts. He bowled for Ford Motors (McAlisterville) in the county league for years, was an avid Penn State football fan and loved hitting pop-ups to his boys when they were young. Jim also enjoyed music. He played the mellophone in the McAlisterville Band, the Juniata Joint High School band and the Mifflin band. Additionally, he sang in the Mexico Presbyterian church choir, the Juniata County Choir and the Chorus of the Blue Juniata of Lewistown, PA. A man of strong Christian faith, Jim was a lifelong member of the Mexico Presbyterian Church at which he served as an elder and assistant Sunday school superintendent. As a youth he also enjoyed attending Bible school at both the Lost Creek Presbyterian Church and the Trinity Lutheran Church, both in McAlisterville. A believer in community engagement, Jim was involved in many community groups. He was active in both the Juniata County Farmers’ Association and the Pennsylvania Farmers Association (PFA) serving as secretary at the county level, as well as the county representative to the PFA’s State Convention in Hershey, and as a county representative for the PFA to government officials in Washington, DC. He served 30 years on the Juniata County Planning Commission, was a 40 year member of Interstate in affiliation with his work as a dairy farmer, and belonged to the Senior Extension. Additionally, he was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the McAlisterville Lions Club and served as president of the McAlisterville Parks Committee. Jim also enjoyed traveling and special events. As a youngster, he was fascinated by the Barnum and Bailey circus. As a young man he traveled the United States passing through all but 3 of the continental states. He attended both the 1933 Chicago’s World’s Fair (Century of Progress Exposition) and the 1939 New York’s World’s Fair. Above all, Jim loved his family and enjoyed family gatherings.
Jim is survived by his wife the former Marcia Holt, daughter of Herman and Elizabeth (Howell) Holt, whom he married on June 16, 1965; their three sons, James (III) with wife Patricia (Gibson), of Harrisburg, and two grandsons Joshua and Caleb, William with wife Karyn (Smerzniak), of King George, VA and five grandchildren Stephen, Kyra, Cassie, Rachel, and Gabriella, and John with wife Anita (Sell), of Johnstown and grandson Walker; nieces, Carol Ann (Snyder) Barker with husband Fred and two grandnephews Jonathan with wife Carrie and family and Jeremiah and Elaine (Snyder) Fry with husband C. “Mike” Fry and grandnephew Michael with wife Laura and family and grandniece Margie; sister-in-law Shirley (Holt) Kinsey with niece and nephews David, William, Rebecca and Nathan and families.
He was preceded in death by his parents James S. G. and Anna (Watts) Thompson, his sister Anna Snyder with husband Ralph, sister, Margaret, and brother-in-law David Kinsey.

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