Charles E. "Bubby" Thompson

CHARLES "BUBBY" THOMPSON Obituary
Mr. Charles Edward "Bubby" Thompson, 77, was born to the late Joe and Jo Ella Thompson on August 31st, 1947, in the living room of 817 Paca Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. This is the same home, as well as 815 Paca Street, where many family members gathered and stayed when they relocated to Indianapolis. Charles was the 7th child out of 10 children, which includes Gwen, Jerry, and Keith Thompson. Ezell, Moses, Leo, Leroy, Jessie Willoughby, and Carolyn Willoughby Beverly.
Bubby attended Crispus Attucks High School. At 19, he was drafted to serve in the United States Army. He completed his tour of duty during the Vietnam War, from 1966 to 1968, and earned an Honorable Discharge. In 1968, he married Brenda Joyce Williams and to this union three children, Charles Jr, Victoria and JoHelen Thompson were born. Bubby was employed at General Motors Corporation from 1977 to 1980, until he was laid off. He then ventured to Baltimore, Maryland. His sister, Gwen, made a trip over to Baltimore and helped him make his way back to Indianapolis to continue his career at GMC/Chevrolet/Truck & Bus from 1980 to 2006, retiring as a laborer after 29 years.
Charles Edward professed his hope in Christ at an early age, when his parents took him to St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church on Ralston/Sheldon Street every Sunday. He later accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior, with several family members, during their visits with him.
On September 20, 1996, Bubby and Gail decided to marry in their backyard after being together for 24 years (it took them that long to make up their minds to get married). They celebrated their 28th anniversary in 2024, although they been together for 52 years. This union blended a large family.
Over the years, Bubby loved to party. He was the party and lived life to its fullest. He loved music, especially those down-home blues and slow jams. He became a nice dresser, with hats and shoes to match. You rarely caught him without his sunglasses on, sharply attired in a complete ensemble. As part of his social life, Bubby enjoyed riding his motorcycle and old school cars, and he was a member of the Unexpected Twos (all-male Social Club). The males branched off from the original all-women's Social club, the Unexpected Ones.
Bubby was also a coach of a softball team started by his Aunt Nora Hart, the Blue Harts. He was an avid bowler in many leagues, including an all-men's league, and across several bowling alleys, including Speedway Bowl, Hindel Bowl, and All Stars Bowl. In his own words, he bowled an average of 275, won tournaments, and received prizes, including a ring.
Over the years, Bubby has had many friends. Chandler Alton and Charlie Brown were two childhood friends. He was also good friends with James Covington (also known as, "Covington") and Leon Mallory (also known as, "Brother"). He loved to play cards and would gather with the fellows outside and at his neighbor Bruce's house on Wednesdays to play Spades and Bid Wiz.
Through it all, Charles has been blessed tremendously. He was a two-time cancer survivor, an amputee, a heart attack survivor, a drug and alcohol addiction survivor, and many other things. BUT GOD allowed him to live over 77 years, and HE allowed him to sleep away peacefully without suffering from a long-term illness.
Bubby departed this life on Friday, April 18, 2025, with his daughter, Nicole, and her best friend, RaShawnda by his side. Charles was preceded in death by his parents; his eight siblings; his son, Charles Edward Thompson, Jr.; his son-in-law Kenneth LaMont Batts, Sr and grandson, Kenneth LaMont Batts, Jr, several other in-laws, relatives, and friends.
Bubby leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Irma "Gail" Thompson;his sister, Gwendolyn Thompson McIntyre; his children, Victoria Thompson- (Brian) Hill, JoHelen Thompson (DeWayne) Rowe, Nicole Thompson Batts (Kevin) Alvis, Shawn, Kyla Powell, Beverly"BJ" Bunnell, Lola (Steve) Dunn, Sheryl Woods, Jenny Vaughn, and Lawrence A. Woods, Jr., and his sister-in-law, Ann Willoughby. Thirty-one grandchildren, Jeri, Nikita, Nieisha, Charles "Chucky", Shanay, Shanika, Devonte, Dorianna, TeeKeyah, Heather, JuShawn, Monica, Monique, Sedric, LaKeysha, Dexter, Dewayne, AJ, Devin, Tierra, Sheryl Lynn, Edward, Jasmine, JaNiah, Michelle, Lisa, Alyssa, Leah, Lawrence III, Maisha, and Latisha; sixty great grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and a host of three generations of nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.
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