Dr. Joseph Edmond Wayne Thompson
Dr. Joseph Edmond Wayne Thompson
September 7, 1926 - October 5, 2023
Wayne, 97 years old, was born September 7, 1926, to the late Myron Burnam Thompson and Prudence Berry Jones Thompson of Falls Church, VA.
He married Mary Virginia Gray Thompson in August, 1948, of Rochelle, VA, who is surrounded by five of their six children, Carol (Dale) Debuhr, Nancy King, David (Debi) Thompson, Rebecca (David) Bohler and Mary (Vance) Stallard. He was preceded in death by their youngest son Jonathan (Joy) Thompson. Mom and Pop have 13 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.
Wayne grew up in rural Fairfax and Arlington Counties with his older sister, Myra. It was there that he gave his heart and life to Jesus Christ at age thirteen and answered the call to preach at age fifteen. He immediately began traveling with a circuit riding pastor among the churches of the historic Ketocton Association of Regular Baptists. It was then that he gained much practical experience in preaching, the knowledge of Virginia Baptists and religious liberty. At the age of seventeen, Wayne was ordained to preach on October 3, 1943, eighty years and two days prior to his home going.
Wayne joined the Marine Corps at 17 and served as a machine gunner in the latter part of World War II. Following his military experience, he attended Bob Jones University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1951 and later was conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from BJU in 1976.
Upon graduation from college he spent five years in evangelism preaching meetings in the South, Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West States. Wayne pastored churches in Tryon, NC; Luray, VA; Houlton, ME and the Engleside Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA. During his twenty six years at Engleside, he led the church through several building programs, and established the church in faith promise, grace giving world evangelism outreach. In 1970, Engleside Christian School was established.
Dr. Thompson served as President of the Old Dominion Association of Church Schools, President of the Christian Legal Defense, was on the board of Baptist World Mission and had continuous involvement in Rapidan Baptist Camp for thirty-five years. He also served as Moderator of the Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptist and Secretary/Treasurer of the Atlantic Baptist Bible College. His love for his home state of Virginia and religious liberty for local churches statewide took him to testify in Local, State and Federal Court rooms protecting those religious liberties for generations to come. “This Day In Baptist History” is a three volume set of daily devotionals that he co-authored with Dr. David Cummins.
He believed and taught that Missions is the heartbeat of God and that every Christian lives in a mission field every day. Travels as a young preacher took him to Japan, Thailand, Laos, Pakistan and the Northwest Frontier Province where he helped establish missionaries. Wayne used his later years to teach Bible and preach in Canada, the Amazon River Basin, Holland, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania and Poland.
Pop loved “My Mary” and his large family very much. We knew he prayed for us by name every day, taught us the importance of staying in God’s Word and serving Him with all our heart. Pop’s example both in and outside the home most often spoke louder than words.
In lieu of flowers, please make monetary contributions to the Rapidan Baptist Camp Memorial Fund, P.O.Box 10, Rochelle, Va. 22738
The family will receive friends on Friday, October 13, 2023 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Preddy Funeral Home Chapel in Madison. Private Burial will be at 3:00 pm at Andrew Chapel Cemetery in Vienna, Va. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at Fellowship Baptist Church in Madison, Va. A meal will follow the memorial service in the fellowship hall of the church.
