Raymond D. THOMPSON

THOMPSON, WILDMAN, HINZE, BERGMAN, SAMPSON, OLSEN, OLSON, SCHOON, JESSIP, RUSHTON, RODGERS, STRINGFELLOW, PARHAM, RUSHTON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/8/2010 at 12:44:20

Atlantic News Telegraph -- Atlantic, Iowa
February 28, 2007

November 23, 1928 -- February 26, 2007

Raymond D. Thompson, 78, longtime Atlantic resident, passed away Monday, Feb. 26, 2007 at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.

Ray was born in rural Lone Rock, Nov. 23, 1928, the son of Paul Maurice and Elizabeth Lizzy (Hinze) Thompson. During his childhood his family moved to rural Lu Verne where he graduated from high school in 1948. He served in the Army Air Corp for 2 years. On Nov. 28 1952 he was united in marriage to Phyllis Joy Wildman in Corwith. In 1954 Ray joined the Iowa State Highway Patrol and was stationed in Des Moines. The early years of his patrol career he was assigned to the western third of Iowa as a trooper pilot and the family moved to Atlantic in 1959. After more than 34 years on the patrol in 1988 he retired from the Iowa State Patrol. Too spirited to relax in his retirement, he worked at Heritage House for two years and then managed Walnut Hill Terrace Apartments for 13 years retiring (again!) in 2003.

Ray took great pride and enjoyment in being a flight instructor for the Patrol, the Atlantic, Greenfield, and Anita flying clubs. He had numerous aviation ratings and was a certified flight instructor for both private and commercial aviation. Ray loved training pilots whether his students learned for fun, to use in their business or go on to become Patrol, commercial, charter, or airline pilots. He was on the airport commission and was proud to be a part of the new airport expansion. Ray was a strong believer in keeping one's mind active and loved to learn. He enjoyed working on the computer and challenged himself to create a website. The address to this ever-expanding project is www.metc.net/~kpkonect/

Raymond is survived by his wife, Phyllis Thompson of Atlantic; a daughter, Deb Bergman and husband Kevin of Mason City; three granddaughters, Amber Bergman and fianc/ Russ Sampson of Ames, Alisha Bergman of Mason City and Monica Bergman of Mason City; one grandson, Andy Olsen and wife Mindy of Moline, Ill.; four great-grandchildren, Lydia, Luke, Tina and Ruth Olson of Moline; five sisters, Genevieve Schoon and husband Ernest of Pocahontas, Geneva Jessip and husband Leo of Chariton, Ersel Rushton of Farnhamville, Pauline Rodgers and husband Bob of Fort Meyers, Fla., and Joyce Stringfellow of Lake Alfred, Fla.; one sister-in-law, Jerrill Parham and husband Roger of Fairview, N.C. and a number of nieces and nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth (Lizzy) Thompson; father, (Paul) Maurice Thompson; one granddaughter, Daniell Marie; mother-in-law, Iva Wildman; father-in-law, Neal Wildman and two brothers-in-law, Keith Rushton and John Stringfellow.

The funeral service for Ray Thompson will be held Friday, March 2, at 1 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic. There will be a visitation at the Roland Funeral Home Thursday, March 1 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Roland Funeral Service is caring for the family and in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be directed to First United Methodist Church, Cass County Hospice, or Hillcrest Family Services.