Paul Thompson

Paul Lloyd Thompson, age 93, of Clarksville, passed away on Sunday, December 25, 2016 at Tennova Healthcare. He joined his wife in Heaven for Christmas and their anniversary on December 26, 2016.
He was born in Akron, Ohio on June 2, 1923, the son of the late Virgil Samuel Thompson and Mildred Green Thompson. Paul was preceded in death by his beloved wife Mariel Riggins Wilyard Thompson; brothers, Bob Thompson, Charlie Thompson, Stanley Thompson, and sister, Betty Ventola.
He is survived by his son, James (Faye) Wilyard; daughter, Mary Wilyard Moore; grandchildren, William (Billy) Wilyard, and Cheryl (Patrick) Wallace; great-grandchildren, William Wilyard, Taylor Wallace, and Brandon Wallace; great-great-granddaughter, McKenleigh; sister, Patricia (Jim) Hickman.
Paul’s family moved to Clarksville in 1939 for his dad to work as Chief Engineer for B.F. Goodrich.
On December 26, 1952 he married Mariel Riggins Wilyard and moved to Dotsonville Road with her and her two children. He resided there until his death, happily and lovingly surrounded by his devoted family.
Paul's career started when he opened his own auto body repair shop, he later worked at Dabbs Motors and retired from Fort Campbell Civil Service, where he was forman over the machine shops.
Paul was a “jack of all trades guy” His many talents included mechanics, wood working and carving, carpentry, writing poetry and singing in choir. Devoted to his family and always there using his many talents to lend a helping hand to them and others.
He belonged to the Shriners and the Masonic Lodge no. 89, served his country in the Navy for four years aboard the U.S.S Guest in the South Pacific during World War II. He was a faithful and dedicated Christian serving God at the Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church in numerous ways.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, December 30, 2016 at McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home with Rev. Michael Guertin officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church beside his beloved wife.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday and 11 a.m. until the hour of service on Friday.
Pallbearers will be Patrick Wallace, Brandon Wallace, Billy Wilyard, Wayne Chester, J.R. Tate, and John Claxton.
Honorary pallbearers are the Mt. Pleasant Congregation.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Church Cemetery Fund c/o Jo Shelby, P.O. Box 44, Woodlawn, TN 37191.
Arrangements are in the care of McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home, (931) 647-3371. NaveFuneralHomes.com.