John Darwin Thomson

John Darwin Thomson

September 2, 1933 - November 20, 2022

John Darwin Thomson, “Tom,” 89, passed away Sunday, November 20, 2022 in Williamsport, Maryland.

Born September 2, 1933 in Nebraska City, Nebraska, John was the son of John and Lorene (Strong) Thomson. He lived his early life in Nebraska and then moved to Minnesota, where he graduated with Honors from Wells Senior High School in Wells, Minnesota.

John proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War before attending Arizona State College at Tempe, graduating with a BS in Industrial Management, with Distinction. He then attended the graduate program at Southern California’s Managerial Policy Institute.

Early in his career, John worked for the Union Oil Company of California before relocating to Connecticut to work at ITT World Headquarters in New York City as Manager of Business and Manufacturing Systems as well as Manager of Manpower Planning and Analysis.

After John married his wife, Yvonne, they moved along with her three young children to Hagerstown, Maryland; John worked at Frick Company in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania as VP of Administration and Operations.

 John and Yvonne became founding members of Re/Max Achievers, a very successful real estate company serving Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. He was a member of The Greater Hagerstown and Pen-Mar Association of Realtors and served as Chairperson of several committees before his retirement from real estate.

John and Yvonne loved to travel, venturing to destinations all over the country, with frequent visits to Iowa, California, Arizona, and New Mexico to see family and long-time friends. They also enjoyed cruises, especially their Baltic and Alaska trips.

But it was Sycamore Springs Farm, or “the farm,” as it was affectionally called, their home in Leitersburg, Maryland, that was John’s greatest joy. He spearheaded the renovation of the 1850’s brick farmhouse on 35 acres that was surrounded by a grove of Sycamore trees, with a gentle, winding stream flowing behind the large barn. He raised horses, cows, chickens, sheep, and his Banty rooster, “Rooster Cogburn.”

John and Yvonne were consummate entertainers, hosting groups of friends for crab feeds and sing-a-longs led by John, who loved music. He played many instruments, including the piano, mandolin, and ukulele; but his favorite music for over seventy years was Barbershop, with its four-part harmony that was perfect for his excellent Bass singing voice. For nearly thirty-three years he was a member of the Hagerstown Chapter of the SPEBSQSA, a Mason Dixon Barbershop Chorus, holding positions as both President and Treasurer.

John was a man of faith, attending Covenant Presbyterian Church in Hagerstown and Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church in Williamsport.

He found pleasure in several hobbies over his many years, including working with wood, calligraphy, and Canadian fishing; he and Yvonne also both appreciated and collected art.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John Nicholas Thomson and Lorene (Strong), Thomson, and his sister, Helen Jeanne Thomson Ringhofer.

John is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Yvonne (Funkhouser) Thomson, and six children.  Three children from his first marriage, all of whom who reside in California, are Melinda Kathleen Lindaman (Joseph); John Charles Thomson (Lesley); David Forest Thomson (Kathleen).   Yvonne’s children, residing in Pennsylvania, are Scott Wesley Strong (Monica); Lisa Strong Mott (Steven); Michelle Ann Strong; also seventeen grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, and his sister, Sandra Thomson, and brother-in-law, Charles Ringhofer.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:

c/o  Doug Courter- Treasurer

13129 Blairs Valley Road

Clear Spring MD  21722

21 S. Potomac St., 2^nd Floor

Hagerstown MD  21740