Thompson, John “Forbes” – 75, South Brookfield, formerly of Halifax, died peacefully at home on October 31st, 2012.
Born in Liverpool Nova Scotia he was the son of Ralph and the late Linda (Forbes) Thompson.
Forbes was an avid hunter and fisherman all his life and had a great love for the outdoors. Forbes took great pride in being a Licensed Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Guide. Forbes was the owner of Thompson and Purcell Land Surveying and a partner in Thompson Conn Surveying, which was more than a career for him it was a passion. Forbes served as past President of both the Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors and the Association of Canadian Land Surveyors.
Anyone who ever spent time with Forbes knew him as a storyteller with a great sense and appreciation of humor and music. Forbes never travelled without his guitar or harmonica and he was always ready to entertain with a tune.
Forbes is survived by his father Ralph, South Brookfield; his loving wife Carolyn, South Brookfield; his much beloved children John (Coleen) Toronto; Linda (Steve) Port Williams; Wendy (Bernard) Kentville; Susan (Robert “Bob”) Halifax. Forbes was proud grandfather of Ashley, Jamison, Nancy, Alexa, Ian, Nicola, Robyn, Danika and Madeleine. Forbes will also be missed by stepchildren Todd (Glenda) Hammonds Plains, Troy (Danielle) Dartmouth and Allison (Jason) Halifax and cherished step grandchildren, Elora, Natalie and Tristan.
Forbes was predeceased by his wives Helen “Ann” and Dorothy “Isabelle”.
A Celebration of Forbes Life will be held on Sunday, November 4th, 2012, at 2:00 p.m., from the Bridgewater Baptist Church, #317 King Street, Bridgewater. Reverend Eric Campbell officiating, assisted by the Reverend Norman Hovland. Family flowers only. In remembrance of Forbes, donations may be made to the Queen’s County VON Palliative Care or to the Bridgewater Baptist Church Building Fund. Online condolences to the family may be made at www.chandlersfuneral.com
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Paul and Heather Harvey
We sure will miss Forbes he was a great individual and a very warm person! Loved his sense of humour, his story-telling and his playing of our piano when he came to visit us! He surveyed our land in Hebbs Cross! He will be deeply missed by friends but above all by his family! Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your loss! May God bless you in these difficult days!
Scott Fox
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Forbes at this sad time. I had the privelegde of working with Forbes for close to 15 years at both Thompson and Purcell and Thompson Conn. I will always remember Forbes as a man who always had a smile on his face, a quick witted sense of humor and a story to tell. He was a great teacher and I will miss him deeply. The surveying community and the community in general has lost one of the best.
Rest in peace Forbes
Fred Hutchinson
Forbes:
You will be greatly missed by all your fellow land surveyors and I am sure that you will be keeping a watch on us and guiding us along our path to make the world a better place. Our prayers are with your family in this time of sorrow and may they take comfort in the fact that you were not just a land surveyor but a friend.
Fred Hutchinson, Executive Director
Brian & connie Wolfe
Carolyn
Our deepest sympathy, it was a great shock, talked to Donnie Campbell at the Land Survey AGM and had hoped to talk to Forbes.by
telephone but his passing was all too quick.
It was always enlightening wheneveer i met him, we were classmates
at The Survey School classof 58-59. Even though we dident associate a lot i will dearly miss him.
Again the best to you and all your family, we are thinking of you.
Brian & connie Wolfe
Phil & Liz Milo
Forbes was a student at the Survey School when I first met him.
His hunting, fishing and story-telling were already established then. He was a good friend of Phil’s family and will be very fondly remembered and greatly missed. His survey career influenced all in the profession who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
BBob & Marlean Rhodenizer, Debbie Zwicker & family
Carolyn and all the family,
Our hearts are so saddened especially for all of you who walked
the path of life with one you held so dear. Bob respected Forbes
fine guidance on the new Church Project, he will be greatly missed
in so many places. We prefer to think of Forbes as having moved
from here to his heavenly home. May your memories of the
wonderful times over shadow all else, and may the God of love
bring comfort to you in the days ahead.
Bob and Marlean Rhodenizer, Debbie Zwicker & family
Gerri Perrault and Family
Carolyn and family,
Our hearts go out to you and your family on the loss of Forbes. We are so gald we got to meet him and spend time a few summers ago as you travelled across the country to attend our family weddings of Renée and Justin as well as Paul and Natalia. We so enjoyed hosting you guys in Prince Albert and doing the road trips to and from Alberta, many laughs, lots of fun. Ray couldn’t get over the fact that Forbes got so much enjoyment out of fishing around here especially on a very wet day. Oh yes, and there was the illegal digging of the provincial tiger lily that blooms in my garden. We are saddened for your loss. In the short time we knew him, we could tell he was a man of genuine integrity with a beautiful generous heart. It was so great to see that God had a plan to help you both find love again in each other. May God grant you extra stength and courage to endure this difficult time and days ahead. May the memories you hold be a comfort to you. Forbes’ days of pain and suffering are over, he is in a better place, at peace with the Lord. May God bless your family.
Joey, Janie, Cara & Cory Ryan
It was a great pleasure to have met such a wonderful person who was so grateful to share his knowledge. Rest in peace. Our sympathy to the family. God bless.
Sonja Edgar
Dear Wendy and family, please accept my sincere condolences with the loss of your Dad. You’ve made so many memories with him and now they are yours to draw on when you want him near. It helps in the process of mourning. Consider yourself hugged Wendy. God bless.
Sincerely
Sonja
Janice Comeau
Carolyn and family, Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and the Forbes family at this sad time. Deepest sympathy, Janice, Allen and the Comeau family (St. Alphonse)
Peter Murray
Sorry to hear about Forbes. I was a land Surveyor in Halifax for 30 years before moving to Yellowknife and finally Newfoundland.
Our paths passed many times and Forbes was an Iconic member of the Assoc. of NSLS.
He is an Old Buddy who will be missed.
Regards,
Peter Murray
peter Dodge
Sad. Sad. A great friend has moved away. Forbes and I were classmates at the Survey School. He has been dropping by our summer home to viisit for the past few years. I went to visit a cousin in Bedford one year and there was a party going on. In I walked, and there was Forbes playing the piano. I shall miss him deeply and treasure memories of him and hope that you all get past the heartache to those smiles of memory that are Forbes Thompson. Special sympathy to Forbe’s father. Cherie joins me in these wishes.
Jim and Flora Gillis
Flora and I were very sorry to hear of Forbes’ passing. Forbes and Don Purcell were my first employers after I graduated from NSLSI, then working out of his home office on Chebucto Road, and it was Forbes with whom I articled and consequently became a commissioned Land Surveyor. I had been looking forward to speaking with him again at the recent AGM but was informed that he would not be there due to his illness. I can still recall our discussions during my first year of employment, and Forbes telling me of his adventures during his own first job after survey school working on the Iron Ore Company railway to Shefferville in 1959. I had brought my son Andrew who is currently working at the “end of steel” of that railway to the AGM last week to speak with Forbes…. but it was not to be. I shall never forget Forbes’ good nature, his patience and his kindness to a young aspiring land surveyor. Flora and I offer our sincere condolences to each member of his family.
Carolyn McCarthy
Hello John, Wendy, Susan, Linda and families:
I was so sorry to hear about the death of your father. He will be greatly missed.
My thoughts are with you all at this time.
Take care,
Carolyn
Yvonne & Laurie Rafuse
Carolyn,
We were so sad to hear the news that Forbes passed away. Please accept our heartfelt sympathy for your loss and know that you are in our prayers.
Judy Comeau
Carolyn – I just got your message, and Yvonne just sent me this beautiful obituary and video. I am so, so saddened for you, my dear friend. You lost a wonderful love, a wonderful friend. His kind and gentle nature shines through the photos of him. I am sure you are thankful to have had the time together that you shared. All too short, but mostly so very wonderful. My heart goes out to you in your sorrow.