Many people did not know that our father (Gil Thompson) and Elmer Kurrle (Uncle Elmer, as our entire family knows him) were life-long friends.  Growing up in Baltimore City and working in the meat cutting business brought two unlikely people together a long time ago.  These were the days of having a job before and after school and learning a trade that would put you on a path that might be your life’s vocation, or at least be a part-time job that would serve you well in the future. 

The meat cutting business proved to be just that and a friendship began between Elmer and Gil that lasted for over 75 years.  Our dad became an electrician but learned the meat cutting business at Kurrle’s Meat Store/MD Beef Company Packing House, and that is where Elmer began his long career in retail and meat cutting. 

Through the years both Elmer and Gil met and married their wives, moved to Kingsville, and continued their friendship.  It was through the generosity of Elmer’s parents that our father obtained a loan in order to buy a piece of property and build our house on Chapman Road in Kingsville.  As a child growing up, we would walk to our elementary school (St. Paul’s Lutheran) and look up at the beautiful house on the hill (on Jerusalem Road)  and admire the landscaped lawns, the well-kept house and garage, and see the playful collies in the yard.  To say that Elmer and Pat liked order and beauty was an understatement – everyone in Kingsville has long admired the white house on the hill with manicured lawn, colorful shrubs, and well-appointed trims and paint.  Someone had to be working hard to make it that way and we all know that Elmer Kurrle believed in hard work, early rising, and things done a certain way.  His home, his neat and clean business, and his life were orderly, well-disciplined, and simple.

At our house, not a week (or even a few days) would go by without mentioning what happened at the Kingsville Market, how Uncle Elmer was doing, and what funny story or “salty” language was used to get his point across that particular time.  If you want to know the truth, we really looked forward to hearing those stories – stories that always contained cigars, collie dogs, bad language, and down to earth caring by a man that really worked behind the scenes to help people.

Our family admired Uncle Elmer for many things and marveled that he:

Ø  Buried many a hard-luck, in-need person who would not have had a funeral or burial if not for his generosity.  The Kingsville community knew that Elmer Kurrle had a heart of gold.

Ø  Provided sandwiches and drinks for the 4th of July service people who participated.

Ø  Donated money for many Kingsville charitable events.

Ø  Offered to pay for my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary party at the Williamsburg Inn (which we did not accept, but were touched by the gesture).

Ø  On several occasions, he sent flowers to my mother when she was ill, which meant so much to her in the last year of her illness.

Ø  Provided donuts every Saturday to his Kingsville Market staff and the bank staff and ate lunch and dinner with his employees.

Ø  Made special trips to the butcher to prepare food for his special collies.

Ø  Fed deer, birds, and other animals continually in the little sanctuary he made for animal visitors.

Ø  Scheduled regular fishing trips and seemed to enjoy being on the water with his friends.  This was one of the only activities that our dad would drop everything in order to join his friends on the water, even when it was scheduled for very, very early in the morning.

Ø  We would come in occasionally to the Kingsville Market to purchase meat or pick up an order that our dad had cut for us for a special project at our church.  Uncle Elmer was no extrovert, but it never ceased to amaze us that he would always make a special point of coming up from the downstairs room or from the back of the freezer area to greet us and inquire about our family or our lives.  As we would leave, he would always say how great it was to see us and wish us well.

Ø  A special bond developed with a small group of friends who enjoyed shooting the breeze and going to breakfast and lunch.  Martin Lotz, Gil Thompson, grandson Jeff, and son Blaine would gather at the Double T in Perry Hall and then the Diner on Route 40 to exchange stories and tell jokes.  It is regrettable that Elmer did not get to return to the Perry Hall Double T; he had all of the waitresses and staff trained (and charmed) to bring him exactly what he wanted each and every time and was endeared to all who worked at these restaurants. 

While there are so many things we don’t know about Uncle Elmer because we were not part of his family, we have observed that he was a generous, caring, and memorable human being.  He would drive long distances for a special cigar, get anything that Pat (his wife) might want, and enjoyed his family and friends.  He was a true man of his word and had that special ability to read people right from the start.  We personally will miss “Uncle Elmer Stories” and know that a truly unique and generous person has touched many lives in Kingsville, MD.  May the family and community be warmed by many special memories and the healing presence of God.

                                                                        Susan Thompson

                                                                        Ellen Thompson

                                                                        Bonnie Williams (Thompson)

                                                                        Gil Thompson’s Daughters