William was born December 19, 1924 in the Union area near Philippi, son of James Otis Thompson, Sr. and Iris Goldie (Daugherty) Thompson. He attended the schools of Barbour County and graduated from the Philippi High School with the class of 1942. William worked at the woolen mill in Philippi. He was working there at the time it was destroyed by fire. He later went to work for the Valley Orchard Company. He boarded at Wilbur and Maude Ryan’s home. They lived on Laurel Mountain Road. Maude and Wilbur were also employed by the same company. There was an apple orchard on that farm and also one on the Talbott Road Farm about two miles out of Belington. Morris Bolton was the supervisor. This was in 1944 and part of 1945. He went to Akron, Ohio in 1945. He went to work for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. He was laid off in 1949 and part of 1950. He returned to West Virginia and was employed by Big Boy Bread Company in Elkins  driving a bread truck. He and his wife, Norma Lee lived in Elkins during that time. Later, he was called back to Firestone. They then moved back to Akron, Ohio. He retired from Firestone.

William married Norma Lee Board. They have three children, Tom, Chuck and Carolyn.

Tom married Lynn.  Now divorced , they have two children, Melinda and Melissa.

Chuck married Joan. They have two children, a son, Ryan, and a daughter, Erin. Carolyn married Herb Brantley. He lost his life in a plane crash. They had no children. Carolyn’s second husband was Bill Hollingsworth. They have one son, Scott William Hollingsworth and a daughter Erica Nichole.

By Robert Thompson, brother