Leon C. Thompson

Leon was born at home in Brocton, NY in 1925 to the late Paul and Margaret Thompson. He was a 1943 graduate of Brocton High School, where (in his own words) he was often a “real pain in the you-know-what” to his teachers. After high school, he was drafted into the United States Navy in which he served for two years during WWII, as an Electrician’s Mate aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga.

After the Navy, Leon lived and worked in and around the Albany, NY area before moving back to western New York in 1955, where he took a job as a pressman at Greater Buffalo Press in Dunkirk. He soon met Doris Scott, whom he wed in August of 1956. Despite having limited carpentry experience, they designed and built a house themselves on West Lake Rd., where they raised their three children. The two of them resided there until they moved into assisted living at Fredonia Place in 2023.

After his retirement in 1990, Leon had even more time to devote to two of his favorite hobbies: reading and listening to music (he particularly loved classical and big band music). Due in large part to his passion for reading, his incredible memory, and his sharp mind (which never faltered, even during his final days), he was one of the smartest and most well-informed people his family and friends have ever known. He was also known for his sly sense of humor, which on more than one occasion often had people either snickering or downright bursting out in laughter – particularly his grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Leon was predeceased by his sister, Gladys King; his brother, Norman Thompson; and son, Larry. Leon is survived by his wife of 67 years, Doris; brother, Donald, of Maple Springs, NY; sister, Lois (Richard) Frazita, of Kenmore, NY; son, Richard (Maureen) Thompson, of Honeoye Falls, NY; daughter, Susan (Jeff) Guziec, of Fredonia, NY; daughter-in-law, Carol Thompson, of Grapevine, TX; grandchildren Shelby (Brandon) Plotner, of Carrollton, TX; Caitlin (Chris) Agee, of Colorado Springs, CO; Benjamin Thompson, of Bend, OR; Andrew Amatuzzo, of Buffalo, NY; Maia Amatuzzo, of Fredonia, NY; and Ian Thompson, of Port Angeles, WA; great-grandchildren Liam and Amelia Plotner, and Jack Agee; and finally several brothers- and sisters-in-law, along with many nieces and nephews. He will be terribly missed by his family and friends, including the residents and staff at Fredonia Place who grew to love him in the six short months he was there.

A viewing and funeral service will be held Friday, Jan. 19, 2024 at McGraw-Kowal Funeral Home, 736 Central Ave., Dunkirk. The viewing will begin at 11:00 AM, followed by the service at 11:30. A reception at the Fredonia Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 219 Central Ave., Fredonia NY will be held after the service concludes. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Leon’s name can be made to the American Cancer Society.