C. Russell “Rusty” Thompson Jr.

Death. It’s just life’s way of firing you.

This is the first time that Rusty Thompson has ever been let go from a job, this one arguably being his most important one, too.

Throughout his all too short life, the family that Rusty created was more than just his blood relatives – there was rarely a person that would cross paths with him that wouldn’t have their lives impacted by his presence – or leave their wallet a bit slimmer from trying to bet against him for one sporting event or another.

Having graduated from the University of Louisville, Rusty’s career in the chemical and adhesive industry was renowned throughout his tenures at Olin Corporation, HB Fuller, and finally retiring as President & CEO of Evans Adhesive Corporation, a Meridian Company – as well as numerous companies and organizations for which he consulted using his vast experiences to their benefit.

A husband, father, Gump (grandfather), brother, son and friend – Rusty was larger than life itself. From his homes in Dublin, Ohio and Vero Beach, Florida, to the horse tracks, to attempting a long lost even par performance on the golf course as a member of Brookside Golf & Country Club – wherever he was, you would feel the love for life that he displayed for all that were blessed to be able to be around him.

Rusty prided himself on his loyalty to his network of relationships, those which will carry us all through the grief that we feel with such an enormous life lost on this earth.

Rusty is survived by his wife, Peg (Ramisch); daughter, Lauren Richards (Skylar); son Chase (Lauren); grandson and “little buddy”, Grayson; stepson Alex Simons; brother David (Melody); father, Carroll; first wife and friend, Kim (Aubrey); brother-in-law, Troy Patterson; and too many other family members and friends whose lives he has impacted that would put us over our allowable word limit.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Betty Lou (Gossett) and sister, Ellen (Patterson).

Rusty requested that friends and family have a celebration of his life in the warmer months in lieu of a funeral – details of which will be communicated once finalized. Until then, we ask that you savor your favorite wine or bourbon in his honor and share your favorite stories so we may all remember the amazing life lived by Rusty Thompson.