Major Harold Herbert Thompson
 

 

Obituary
Harold Herbert Thompson


Harold Herbert Thompson, the son of Herbert Martin and Lena Birdella (Zong) Thompson, was born October 30, 1910 near Herrick, South Dakota. He died September 18, 2000, in Grand Island, Nebraska at the age of 89 years, 11 months and 18 days.

Harold lived in South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Texas and Arkansas. He graduated from Belvidere High School and the University of Nebraska (1936). Following graduation from college, he received an appointment to the 3rd U.S. Infantry as a Lieutenant.  He served as a company commander in the Conservation Corps. In World War II, Harold served as a Captain and Major in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was in the China-Burma-India theater of war. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 3.

He married Alice Ada Wylie on January 29, 1938. To this union was born one son, Richard W. Thompson.

After World War II, Harold and Alice settled on a acreage southeast of Lincoln, Nebraska. They developed the Linview and Woodlawn Terrace residential subdivisions near Lincoln. They also operated the Thompson Hobby Store.   Harold retired in 1975.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Lena Thompson and sister, Virginia (Thompson) Barkmeier.

He is survived by his wife, Alice Ada (Wylie) Thompson; son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Shirley Thompson, Manitoba, Canada; grandchildren, Rachel Thompson, Bradley Thompson and Matthew Thompson; brother W. Wayne Thompson, Bruning, Nebraska; sister, Vivian (Thompson) Caples Eickhoff, Kansas City, Missouri; nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Friday, September 22, 2000 at the Butherus, Maser & Love Chapel in Lincoln, Nebraska with Pastor Lauren Ekdahl officiating. Interment was at Lincoln Memorial Park in Lincoln, Nebraska with military graveside services conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard.

Honorary pallbearer was Dennis Caples. Pallbearers were Karl Schwabauer, Wayne Barkmeier, Michael Miles, Duane Kirkpatrick, Loren Beckler and Dan Kerner.

Services were conducted by the Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home, Lincoln, Nebraska.



Eulogy
Alice Ada (Wylie) Thompson


Alice Ada (Wylie) Thompson will be remembered by family and friends as a strong, determined woman who loved to read, do crosswords, watch the news, and provide the questions for Jeopardy. She made scrapbooks, saved things, was a prolific letter writer and note keeper.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend.

Alice was born at Burchard, Nebraska on October 24th, 1914, the youngest child of the Rev. J. Bruce Wylie and Emma Wylie. Prior to here death in 1915, Alice's mother Emma arranged for Alice to live with George and Frances Lewis of Winside, Nebraska. She was their only child. But Alice also grew up surrounded by her brothers and sister, Bruce Wylie and his second wife Mabel.

Alice graduated from Winside High School in 1931. She was an avid student with a keen intellect. Among her papers is a diary entry about an academic competition she entered in the 8th grade. She had placed 3rd in competition in Wayne and was worried about weather preventing her from traveling to Lincoln for state competition. She got there and place 4th. Alice went on to graduate from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1936 after which she taught at Cairo, Nebraska High School.

On January 29, 1938 Alice married Harold Herbert Thompson at the Lewis home. Her natural father, Rev. Wylie, presided.

As an officer's wife, Alice moved to Minnesota with Harold. After that service, they briefly owned and operated a drug store in Austin, Texas. When Harold was called back to active service, Alice returned to teaching high school in Winside.

After the war Alice and Harold made Lincoln their home. They operated a market garden on a small acreage for 20 years. Their only son Richard was born in 1946 and has fond memories of his rural upbringing with mixed emotions about the necessary chores - feeding chickens and picking vegetables.

In the mid 1960's they sold the acreage as residential lots and built a new home on a corner lot. Alice resided in this home until she moved three blocks to the Homestead Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in 2001.

Alice was involved in the PTA for many years and kept volumes of clippings, photos and memorabilia; she was very active. She served at the school, city and state levels and was the state president from 1978-1971. She was honored with a lifetime membership in the PTA and a lifetime of friendships.

Alice was also involved at Trinity United Methodist Church. She taught in the Sunday school program for 14 years.

Just when she might have started to slow down, Alice and Harold opened the Thompson Hobby Store on "O" Street. It was the right business for her, an avid seamstress and crafter. She started painting a showed her work in a 1983 Seniors Exhibition at the governor's mansion.

In 1974 Alice became a grandmother, a role she relished. She kept in close touch with her three grandchildren, Rachel, Bradley and Matthew. A small shoebox full of letter from them is indicative of the active correspondence between them.

A memory the children will always cherish is the late August visits from Grandma and Grandpa. They would rent a cottage in Riding Mountain National Park. The children would ride the bus to meet them for a week of grandparent indulgence.

In 1992 tragedy struck - Harold has a stroke. Alice's determination enabled her to care for him at home until his death in 2000. In 2001 Alice's medical needs meant moving into the Homestead Center nursing care facility where her pleasant disposition and engaging smile won the hearts of many staff.

Alice lived in the same area of Lincoln for 58 years. She was part of a neighborhood that watched and cared for each other.

Alice died on November 13, 2003 and will be remembered for her strong will and optimism which served her well for 89 years. For Alice, the cup was always half full and she made the best of every situation. Alice we will miss you.


 


Child of Harold and Alice (Wylie) Thompson

 Richard W. Thompson

 

 

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