Robert Ray Thompson, 79, of Pelham, Alabama, passed away Thursday, January 21, 2021. He was born in Walthall County, Mississippi on December 11, 1941.

Visitation will be 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, January 24, 2021 at Catchings-Starkey Funeral Home, 1023 Old Brookhaven Road, Summit, MS 39666. The graveside service will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, January 25, 2021 at Hollywood Cemetery in McComb, Mississippi with Bro. David Millican officiating.

Bob graduated from Carter's Creek School. In 1957, he met the love of his life, Janice Richardson, and they were married on July 7, 1961. He began working for BellSouth in 1962 as a lineman, and retired in December 2001 as head of the Network Surveillance Systems Support Group.

Bob spent his retirement watching his grandchildren grow up. Fall Saturday rituals were grilling and watching Alabama Crimson Tide Football. Sunday afternoon was spent doing Birmingham News crossword puzzles. All week long, he especially enjoyed seeing his great-grandson smile.

Bob was past president of Dixie Youth Baseball, past area president of Mississippi Jaycees, past director of McComb, Mississippi Jaycees, past member of Exchange Club, past member of Mississippi Telco Credit Union Board of Directors, member of Alabama Telephone Pioneers, and member of Valleydale Baptist Church.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, Claude Dwight Thompson and Mildred Myers Thompson; sister, Peggy Thompson Magee; brother, Larry Thompson; sister-in-law, Quida Dupree; brothers-in-law, Buddy Magee and Donnie Cothen; and mother- and father-in-law, Elois and Howard Cothern.

Survivors include Bob's wife, Janice Thompson; three sons, Robert Mitchell Thompson (Jan), Greg Howard Thompson, and Craig Claude Thompson; sister, Annie Joe Thompson LaMaster (Bob); grandchildren, Alexandra Brooke Thompson Aloia, Riley Cade Aloia, Cody Lee Thompson, Robert Cole Thompson, Brock Traver Thompson, Cassidy Jones Thompson, and Brody Myers Thompson; great-grandson, Briar Elias Aloia; sister-in-law, Judy Cothern and daughter-in-law, Renee Alias.