GEORGE FELIX THOMPSON,

JR., 86, of Little Rock, died October 23, 2022. He was born February 21, 1936, to Carrie and Felix Thompson of Pine Bluff and El Dorado. After growing up in El Dorado, he graduated from Henderson State Teachers College where received his Music Education degree, majoring in piano, voice, and theory.

In 1958, at Forrest Heights Junior High School in Little Rock, he began his life-long music profession as a choral music teacher. Toward the end of his seven-year tenure, he began serving as choir director at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Little Rock. While there he hired the new church organist – the beginning of his 59-year life with his wife, Martha Lynn.

From St. Paul, his musical abilities led him to the Methodist Children’s Home of AR where he was introduced to handbells and became known as “the bell man.” While at MCH, his vocal and handbell choirs traveled more than 32,000 miles leading musical worship services in United Methodist Churches in Arkansas.

In October 1970, Felix became the Minister of Music at the newly formed St. James UMC where he and Martha Lynn built the Music Ministry that was a major ingredient in the growth of St. James.

Felix is survived by his wife, Martha Lynn; brother-in-law, Marshall Oathout (Edie) of Nashville, Tenn.; and a host of former students, handbell ringers, choir members, and friends.

A service of celebration will be held at St. James United Methodist Church on Monday, October 31, 2022, at 11 a.m. Interment will be in the St. James columbarium. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Thompson Scholarship Fund at St. James UMC, 321 Pleasant Valley Dr., Little Rock, Ark., 72212. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com