Jeffrey Baird Thompson

Jeffrey “Jeff” B. Thompson, of Zanesville, passed away Tuesday, April 16, at Ohio State’s Ross Heart Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Born May 8, 1954, Jeff grew up attending Grace United Methodist Church.

Jeff was an accomplished gardener, and he loved to study and practice the art of Bonsai which is the Japanese art of growing and shaping miniature trees in containers. Jeff also grew a vegetable garden wherever he lived, much to the delight of friends and family who benefitted from his abundant crops.

Jeff loved the outdoors and was awarded a Certificate of Recognition from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for his outstanding volunteer service to the Division of Park and Recreation in 1989. Jeff also loved to travel. Some of his favorite locations included Northern Ontario, California, Florida, Maryland, Delaware and Washington, DC.

Jeff made friends everywhere he went, and his kind and gentle spirit reached out to everyone he met from the check-out line at a store to the employees at the city utilities office. Whenever he was in the hospital, he was the nurse’s favorite patient due to his upbeat and positive attitude.

Jeff served in the U.S. Army at Fort Ord, California, from 1976 to 1980, where he was honorably discharged as a member of the 8th Field Artillery Unit. Jeff also received additional Canon Puller training at Fort Cil in Oklahoma and Jack Frost Training in Fort Greely, Alaska. While in the military, Jeff advanced his food preparation experience as a night baker and also by preparing daily meals for 1,500 soldiers on base. Jeff never lost his love of cooking, and he enjoyed making healthy, home-cooked meals for his family and friends. Jeff was a long-time member and supporter of the American Legion, #29, in Zanesville where he had many friends.

Anyone who knew Jeff, knew of his excellent manners and work ethic. He opened doors for women and the elderly. He was the ultimate gentleman. He had many friends and coworkers at BIG LOTS and the Muskingum County Home on the East Pike where he retired after 30 years of making resident’s and staff’s lives brighter by his presence. Jeff also completed training in 1994 on the Role of Hospice in the Nursing Home. Jeff had a servant’s heart and took the time to listen to other people’s needs and perform little acts of kindness throughout his life.

Jeff most recently worked at Goodwill in South Zanesville where he had a loyal group of coworkers who loved him as well as friends who would stop by to shop and who always looked forward to a visit with him.

When thinking of Jeff, we are reminded of the quote: “you may be only one person to the world, but you may be the world to one person“. Jeff made every person’s life better for knowing him.

Surviving are his son, Ryan Thompson (Haylie Boysel), of Philo, Oh.; grandson, Tanner Brookover of Zanesville; sister, Jana Thompson Leech (Spencer) of Annapolis, Md.; his former wife, Candy L. (Tyson) Thompson; his loving companion, Becky Jenkins; members of the Kirkbride family and very special cousins, nieces and nephews. Jeff was preceded in death by his sister Victoria Thompson Baker in 2003; father, John R. Thompson, in 2007; brother, Steve Thompson in 2009; daughter, Kerri Thompson in 2018; wife, Mary Kirkbride in 2018; and mother, Shirley Thompson in 2019. Jeff’s special K-9 companion, Buckeye, who had originally belonged to his brother, Steve, passed at the end of 2023.

Memorial contributions in Jeff’s honor may be made to Canine Partners for Life, (CPL) a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that breeds, raises, trains, and matches service and companion dogs with those who need support in their daily lives. K94life.org/donate or checks can be made payable to Canine Partners for Life and mailed to P.O. Box 170, Cochranville, PA 19330. Phone: 610.869.4902.

Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at the Bryan & Hardwick Funeral Home where funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. with Chaplain Tim Patton officiating.

The Bryan & Hardwick Funeral Home, 2318 Maple Ave. Zanesville is in charge of the arrangements. To share memories and condolences with Jeff’s family please click on the Tribute Wall tab on this page.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jeffrey Baird Thompson, please visit our floral store.