Hayward Russell Thompson

Hayward Russell Thompson, 81, of Frederick, entered into eternal life on May 1, 2024.  Born on September 18, 1942, in Purcellville, Virginia, he was the son of the late William Russell & Frances Cockerill Thompson.  He was the loving husband of Joan Clingan Thompson his wife of fifty-two years.

Russ graduated in 1960 from Loudoun County High School in Purcellville, Va.  He always attended his classes reunions & cultivated those wonderful friendships throughout his lifetime. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University where he served in 1964 as Student Government President.  Russ joined the US Army completing Officer’s Candidate School in 1965 where he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant.  He spent 1966-67 in Vietnam as part of the 64th Quartermaster Battalion, 512th Quartermaster Company.  While in Vietnam, he earned the rank of 1st Lieutenant.  He was very patriotic & always proud to have served his country.

Russ moved to Falls Church, Virginia where he briefly worked for Massachusetts Mutual Insurance and met his wife, Joan.  Russ & Joan married & moved to Frederick in 1972 and Russ began his own Nationwide Insurance Agency which he managed on a very professional & personal level for thirty years with the help of great, loyal employees.  He earned the Nationwide prestigious President’s Club many years & earned the industries distinguished Chartered Life Underwriter designation.  He also was an instructor for Providence Educational Seminars.  He served as President of the Frederick Life Underwriters of Frederick County & for several years on their Board of Directors. Along with his dear friend & fellow associate, Jay Fifer, he chaired the very first Family Festival sponsored by the Frederick Life Underwriters & held in Baker Park annually to promote family unity & develop a sense of community via a fun- filled free day.Russ served on the very first Hospice Board of Directors as well as President & Board Member of the former Jeanne Bussard Workshop.  He was a Board Member for Second Chances Garage & was a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Frederick County Sheriff’s Dept.

Russ enjoyed playing golf with longtime friends & organized trips south each year with the guys.  He was a longtime active member of the Lewistown Ruritan Club, serving his community in many capacities. He enjoyed baseball & he was an avid Oriole Fan.

Russ’s life really revolved around knowing & serving his Savior Jesus Christ. He was a good, honorable man.  He took his family to serve at the Frederick Rescue Mission for many years at Thanksgiving & together he & Joan participated in Lay Witness Missions, were Youth Group Leaders, Sunday School Teachers, & were founding members of Faithpoint Church in Urbana, Md.
  
He is survived by his wife, Joan Clingan Thompson, & loving daughters, Julienne Thompson Biglin and son-in-law Brian of Ladera Ranch, California and Katie Lynn Silver and son-in-law Ryan of Urbana, Maryland; four grandchildren, Andrew Hayward Biglin, Gabriel Russell Silver, Regan Elizabeth Silver, & Landon Albert Silver.  He was predeceased in death by his only sibling, Helen Letitia Thompson. 
The family will receive friends on Sunday, May 5 from 1 to 2:30 PM at Thurmont United Methodist Church, 13880 Long Road, Thurmont, MD 21788, where a funeral service will immediately follow at 2:30 PM.  Interment will be held on Monday, May 6 at 10:00 AM at Grace U.C.C. Cemetery, Taneytown.

Donations in Lieu of flowers may be made to: Wounded Warriors Project, https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/default.aspx?tsid=10043&ovr_acv_id=5246, or to Frederick Health Hospice, 1 Frederick Health Way, Frederick MD 21701 or by visiting https://frederickhealthhospice-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1277700.