1919
Wilbur
2011
Wilbur "Bill" Thompson
August 6, 1919 — August 28, 2011
Wilbur “Bill” G. Thompson, 92, died Sunday, August 28, 2011 at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha. Bill was born on August 6, 1919 the son of John Arthur Thompson and Fleeta Edna (Moody) Thompson at Delavan, Kansas. He attended Pleasant View Grade School and graduated from Oneida High School in 1937. After attending Kansas State University for two years, he worked at a variety of jobs in Pennsylvania and served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946, he returned to Kansas State University to complete his BS degree in electrical engineering in 1948.
Bill was united in marriage to Wilma Houston of Winchester, Kansas in Sharon, Pennsylvania on May 9, 1943. She passed away in 1995 from complications of polio (contacted in 1952). Bill is survived by their three children: Gerilyn Rowlinson and her husband, John of Phoenix, Arizona, Dennis Thompson and his wife, Margie of Payson, Arizona and Kerry Thompson and his wife, Mary of Mesa, Arizona as well as six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Bill was employed by Sverdrup and Pacell in St. Louis, Missouri from 1949 to 1968 and in Tempe, Arizona from 1968 to 1981. While in St. Louis he initiated the formation of the Sverdrup and Parcell Employees Recreational Organization (SPERO) and a neighborhood association to protect against business encroachment in the residential area.
As a member of the Tempe Sundown Optimist Club he was responsible for the planning and development of a park for handicapped children and implementation of a scholarship program for those interested in learning a trade. He also served several terms as a Republican Committeeman and on the Tempe Board of Electrical Advisors.
In 1984, Bill and others formed GMTX Corporation- Consulting Engineers. He served as company president until retirement in 1987 at which time he formed Thompson Engineering. He retired again in 1992.
Bill was united in marriage to Eleanor (Meyer) Hewitt on April 5, 1997 in Sabetha, Kansas. They made their home in Sun City Grand/Surprise, Arizona and Sabetha.
Bill recently joined the American Legion. His proudest military moment was serving as honor guard for FDR’s funeral procession. He was a lifetime member of Optimists International, EEE and NSPE.
Bill is preceded in death by three brothers, Elvin Thompson, Ronald Thompson and Orvis Thompson; a sister, Elma Thompson.
Funeral services will be Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Sabetha. A visitation will be Friday evening 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Popkess Mortuary Chapel in Sabetha. The interment will be made in the Reformed Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Winchester, Kansas at 2:00 p.m.. Memorial contributions may be made to the Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research at Kansas State, Sabetha Community Hospital and the First United Methodist Church sent in care of the Popkess Mortuary in Sabetha.
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