Wilbur Earl Thompson, 78, of Huntsville passed away Monday at his home with his family at his side.

Mr. Thompson graduated from Greenville, AL, High School in 1948.

He was a Korean War veteran having served 5 years in the Air Force as part of their Mobile Training Group.

He received his degree from Troy State University.

His first job after graduation was with NACA at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA.

He later transferred to the Space Task Group that was the forerunner of the Johnson Research Center in Houston.

In 1960 he transferred to Huntsville and began a long career with NASA at Marshall Space Flight Center, retiring in 1988.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Illene Dexter Thompson of Huntsville; his mother, Lura Haire Thompson of Montgomery; two children, son, Larry Thompson, and daughter, Alicia Fanning and her husband, Michael; four grandchildren, Bartlett and Dexter Thompson and Anna and Rachel Fanning, all of Huntsville; brother, Malcolm Thompson and his wife, Jean, of Greenville; sisters, Betty Cardinale and husband, Frank, of Greenville and Carolyn Gibbs of Montgomery.

Visitation will be held from 11:00 to 12:30 on Wednesday, April 9th at Trinity United Methodist Church at 607 Airport Road followed by a Memorial Service at 12:30.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Lung Association of Alabama or Trinity United Methodist Church Building Fund or to a charity of your choice.