Friends and family spent months planning a 90th birthday party for George Thompson of Independence Township.
They wanted it to be a surprise.
“Surprised? Yeah, I sure was,” said Thompson.
“I can’t believe that we actually pulled it off,” said said Amy DeFord, one of his daughters.
They enjoyed a buffet lunch, June 28, at Clarkston Community Church. Guests viewed pictures of Thompson from his World War II days, and recently from a visit to the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.
“I think he’s the best,” DeFord said. “He’s been such as example for my life, for everything.”
“He’s a wonderful guy,” said daughter Pat Vanover. “He’s always there for me whenever I need him. Whenever I needed something, he was there.”
George and his wife, the late Ruth, moved to Clarkston in 1977. He has two children, Roy Ricco, who owns a restaurant in Boquette, Panama, and VanOver, who lives in Coldwater, Mich., five step-children, 17 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren.
He was born in Punxsutawney, Pa., on June 30, 1918.
? Phil Custodio