Hal Richard Thompson

Friday, December 26, 2014

Hal Richard Thompson passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014.

He was born on Jan. 28, 1927, in Blytheville to a family broken financially and spiritually by the Great Depression. As a result, Hal was independent at a very young age, enrolling himself in school at the age of 4. In 1944, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the service. The US Army recognized his intelligence and started training Hal in engineering. When the war ended, he was sent to Korea, a place he had never heard of. There, he proved his capacity to keep up with those older and better-educated West Point graduates in the officer corps. Hal remained in active duty until 1947. He was honorably discharged from the Army Reserves in 1961 with the rank of captain.

After his tour of duty in Korea, Hal enrolled at the University of Arkansas, where he studied hard and played hard. He lived in a barracks with a dozen or so other servicemen from the war. He was asked to be the president of his engineering fraternity but was unable to accept the position because he did not own a tuxedo or a car. He earned his bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering in 1951.

After graduation, Hal went to work at Union Carbide Corporation in Texas City, Texas, leading field maintenance operations for a large chemical manufacturing facility. He met Mary Elizabeth Mills of Carthage, Mississippi, fell in love, got married and had two children. He was an active father, always playing in the front yard after returning home from work -- feeding the squirrels and running after children as he taught them to ride bicycles, building teepees from a plastic tarp and boards and making bows and arrows. He risked his life for his children, one time jumping off the roof of the house to catch his 3-year-old daughter who had fallen into an unattended brush fire next door.

In 1966, Hal was offered a promotion into corporate management in New York City and he accepted, even though he had just finished building an addition to the family home and the family's best friends and in-laws, the Mason family, had planned to move next door. The family moved to Connecticut, where Hal transitioned from manufacturing plant life to corporate life, a change that was sometimes hard for him, a man who liked to be outside and to work with his hands. He encouraged his children to pursue the educational opportunities that the northeast provided. He was so proud when his son was accepted into to West Point and The U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He was puzzled but proud nonetheless when his daughter attended Harvard.

In 1986, after 35 years with Union Carbide, Hal retired. He and Mary Elizabeth moved backed to Mississippi to be closer to family and friends. There, they lived in a house they designed and built themselves. Hal supported Mary Elizabeth in her genealogy research. They also became devoted grandparents to their five grandchildren. In 2013, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with their children and grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth's sisters and numerous nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.

In later years, when Hal's health began to fail, Mary Elizabeth devoted herself to his care. When her health failed, Hal supported her as best he could. He congratulated himself on being smart enough to marry his wife. He held her hand as she passed, reminding her every few minutes, "You're my girl."

Hal's greatest legacies are his love for his wife, children and grandchildren; his discipline and perseverance; his willingness to embrace change; and his ability to stay true to himself. He always told it as he saw it. He never tried to be anything he was not. He was always the country boy from Arkansas even when working in New York City. This is perhaps the greatest gift he left his children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Lewis Thompson and Clara Lintznich Thompson; his brother, John Lewis Thompson Jr; and his wife of 61 years, Mary Elizabeth Mills Thompson.

Hal is survived by his son, Hal R Thompson Jr and his wife, Jennifer;

His daughter, Mary Lane Thompson and her husband, Robert Knuth; and

Five grandchildren, Hal Richard Thompson III and Meaghan Louise Thompson, Thompson Mills Knuth, Grace Agnes Knuth and Mihret Elizabeth Tadele Knuth.

Visitation is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday at Welch Funeral Home in Starkville, Mississippi. A graveside service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Carthage Memorial Gardens in Carthage, Mississippi.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in his honor may be made to Palmer Home for Children, PO Box 746, Columbus, MS 39703, or First United Methodist Church of Starkville Mission Fund, 200 W. Lampkin St., Starkville, MS 39759.

An online guest register is available at www.welchfuneralhomes.com.