Obituary of William Joseph Thompson

William Joseph Thompson

Aug. 28, 1947 - Feb. 11, 2024

 

William “Bill” Joseph Thompson, 76, passed away on Feb. 11, 2024. A military honors service will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, at Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

 

Bill was born Aug. 28, 1947, in Lamar, Colorado, to Wallace and Helen Thompson.

 

He is survived by three sons and their wives, Brady and Stacie Thompson of Branson, Missouri, Chris and Laura Thompson of Waxahachie, Texas, and Derek and Jamie Thompson of Columbia, Missouri; six grandchildren, Graham, Duncan, Asher, Darcy, Lola and Wallace; and several nephews and extended relatives.

 

Bill graduated from Wiley High School in 1965. He was a gifted athlete and played both football and basketball. Bill used his dominant frame and signature left-handed hook shot to earn district and all-conference basketball honors for the state championship runner-up Wiley Panthers.

 

Bill served his country as a sergeant and squad leader of the Wolfhounds of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry during the Vietnam War. He earned several commendations, including the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

 

He attended college in Portland, Oregon, to play collegiate level basketball. He studied English literature at Lamar Community College and the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. It was here that his wit and intelligence caught the attention of Glenda Davis. The two were married on April 14, 1979, in the United Methodist Church of Wiley. Together, they raised their three sons over a 28-year marriage.

 

Bill lived most of his life in southeast Colorado and was known by many as Billy Joe. He was a fixture of the Lamar small business community as the co-owner of Davis Western Store for 23 years. Following his retirement, he moved to Pueblo before spending his final years under the compassionate care of the team at Bruce McCandless Veterans Community Living Center in Florence, Colorado.

 

Bill will be remembered as a loving father with a generous heart and a man with a charismatic disposition who never knew a stranger.