John Lester Thompson III (May 11, 1926 – May 2, 2004) was an American prelate of the Episcopal Church who served as Bishop of Northern California from 1978 until 1991.

Biography

Thompson was born on May 11, 1926 in

Youngstown, Ohio Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio, and the largest city and county seat of Mahoning County, Ohio, Mahoning County. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Youngstown had a city population of 60,068. It is a principal city of ...

. During

WWII World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

he enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater. He then studied at

Youngstown College Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio, and the largest city and county seat of Mahoning County, Ohio, Mahoning County. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Youngstown had a city population of 60,068. It is a principal city of ...

, and then at the Episcopal Theological School, graduating in 1951. Thompson was ordained a deacon in June 1951 and priest in December 1951. He initially served as a curate at St Mark's Church in

Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...

. He married Shirley A. Scott in August 1951 and together had two children. In 1953 he became rector of Trinity Church in Ashland, Oregon. During that time, he was also a board member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and as its president for one year. In 1960 he became rector of Christ Church in

Eureka, California Eureka (Wiyot: ''Jaroujiji'', Hupa: ''do'-wi-lotl-ding'', Karuk: ''uuth'') is the principal city and county seat of Humboldt County in the Redwood Empire region of California. The city is located on U.S. Route 101 on the shores of Humboldt ...

, where he remained until 1978. In April 1978, Thompson was elected Coadjutor Bishop of Northern California on the 22nd ballot. He was consecrated on September 21, 1978 in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament,

Sacramento, California ) , image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg , mapsize = 250x200px , map_caption = Location within Sacramento C ...

by Presiding Bishop

John Allin John Maury Allin (April 22, 1921 – March 6, 1998) was an American Episcopalian bishop who served as the 23rd Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church from 1974 to 1985. Early life Allin was born in Helena, Arkansas. He graduated from the Un ...

, and subsequently succeeded as diocesan upon Bishop Haden's retirement that same month. He remained in office until his retirement in 1991. Thompson died at home in

Medford, Oregon Medford is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Oregon, in the United States. As of the 2020 United States Census on April 1, 2020, the city had a total population of 85,824 and a metropolitan area population of 223,259, making the Me ...

, on May 2, 2004."Rt. Rev. John Lester Thompson III"
''legacy''. Retrieved on November 1, 2023.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, John Lester 1926 births 2004 deaths 20th-century American Episcopalians Episcopal bishops of Northern California 20th-century American clergy