CUMBERLAND COUNTY, TN - OBITUARIES - Junior Thompson, 14 Sep 1977 --------------¤¤¤¤¤¤-------------- Thompson Dies From Freak Plant Accident September 14,1977 Junior Thompson a Warehouse Manager at the Monticello Canning Company, had been a Warehouse manager for the past five years of his 12 year employment at the Company. Mr.Thompson died last Wednesday evening after being injured in a "freak" accident at the canning company. Mr.Thompson was in the warehouse section of the plant,talking with co-workers when a 14 foot stack of processed pimentos fell from their pallets,striking the 52-year old man and another worker, Geraldine Smith . Thompson suffered a fractured skull and a broken neck in the accident,according to a spokesman at the plant. Mrs. Smith suffered a fractured skull and a broken pelvis. Both the Accident victims were taken to Cumberland Medical Center . Mrs. Smith was admitted and listed in "fair " condition on Monday.Mr. Thompson was treated in the emergency room,then transported via ambulance to the Ft. Sanders Hospital in Knoxville,TN. He died there at 9:15 p.m. the same evening. Thompson was 15 minutes away from completing his shift when the accident occurred. A spokesman at the plant said the weight of the processed pimentos,which are canned in four ounce glass containers, was approximately 2,000 to 3,000 pounds. The entire length of the stack fell,striking Mr. Thompson on the head. Charles Russell,a member of the management personnel at the local cannery,said this was the first serious accident the company has had since it began operations 25 yrs. ago. He said the cause of the accident has not been determined. The pimentos had been processed earlier the same day and were stacked on wooden pallets,stored in a vertical position. Funeral Services for the Route 7,Crossville resident were held Saturday morning at 10:00 o'clock at Bilbrey's Chapel. Burial followed in the City Cemetery. Mr. Thompson leaves his wife Trena Burgess Thompson,one daughter Wanda Follmer, of Missouri,two grandchildren,his mother and step father,Blanche and Clyde Thompson,a step-mother,Lillie Thompson, seven sisters and six brothers. Junior Thompson September 14,1977 -February 22,1924 Mr. Junior Thompson , age 53, passed away September 14,1977 at the Fort Sanders Hospital in Knoxville,Tenn. He was born February 22,1924 in Overton County,Tenn.,the son of William Ernest Thompson and Blanche Matthews Thompson. He was employed at the Monticello Canning Company for the past 12 years and was a warehouse Manager for the past five years. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Saturday,September 17th in the Chapel of Bilbrey Funeral Home with burial in the Crossville City Cemetery. Brother Horace Wyatt officiated. Mr. Thompson is survived by his wife ,Trena Burgess Thompson;one daughter, Wanda Follmer of St. Louis,Mo.; two grandchildren, Norman Sapp and Sharon Sapp; his mother and step-father ,Blanche and Clyde Thompson; a step-mother, Lillie Thompson of Monterey; seven sisters, Reba Griffin, Crossville;Eloise Trimble,Orlando, Florida; Martha Swallows, Monterey; Emogene Swallows, Monterey; Linda Harville,Clarkrange; Margie Harris and Brenda Thompson, both of Monterey. He was preceded in death by his father. Six brothers survive, including Howard Thompson, Crossville;Harlan Thompson,Clarkrange;Harold Thompson,Goodman Thompson,Miller Thompson and Dale Thompson, all of Monterey. Pallbearers were Alton Tabor,Charles Russell,Dennis Hinch,Ronnie Speich,Aubrey Barnwell and Earl Dean. Bilbrey Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements. Note-******* Accident information and Obituary was in the Crossville Chronicle,Tuesday,Sept. 20,1977, Volume 91-Number 38A-Front page and cont.- on page 2A. . ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Tana Allen tootie2@citlink.net ___________________________________________________________________