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Jay
Richards Thompson was born April 25, 1923 in
Clayton, Texas
and died March 12, 2008 in
Jacksboro, Texas. His father,
William Levi Thompson was a farmer and
dealer in Watkins Products; his mother, Tex
Emma
Richards was a homemaker. Jay attended
schools in Clayton, Gary and
Terrell,Texas; joined the US Marine
Corps in July 1941, did recruit training and
sea school in
San Diego; transferred to Marine
Barracks,
Honolulu, TH and then to Marine
Detachment USS San Francisco on December 4,
1941 just prior to the sneak attack by the
Japanese on
Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He
served aboard the USS San Francisco for 2 ?
years and earned eleven battle stars on the
Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon and other
decorations. Jay was able to attend the 50th
Anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor
with Helen and the 60th and 65th
anniversaries with his daughters. He was a
member of PHSA, DAV, the USS San Francisco
Association, ATPE, TEPSA and several other
organizations. The Richard Bard Chapter of
the DAR also honored him by awarding him
their
Medal of Honor, their highest award.
Medically discharged in January 1945, Jay
met his future wife, Helen Ritchie, while he
was a patient and she was a nurse at the VA
Hospital in McKinney. They married on June
2, 1951, and were married almost 51 years at
the time of her death in 2002. He is
survived by their three children; Jean and
husband Jerry Henderson of
Jacksboro, Texas; John of
Las Vegas, NV and Paula and husband
Roger Koehler of
Spring, Texas; and five
grandchildren: Ben of
Waco, Texas, Hannah of
Lubbock, Texas and Pete, Emily and
Michael of
Spring, Texas; and four nieces: Kathy
Rockenfeller of
Amarillo, Texas, Susan Diggs of
McAllen, Texas, Margaret Phoebe Haney
of
East Aurora, NY and Terry Stewart of
California; and two nephews: Jay Clem
of
Santa Rosa, CA and
Tommy Thompson of
Bakersfield, CA. He is also survived
by his sister-in-law Ethel Zybczynski of
Hamburg, NY.
After earning his BS (on the
GI Bill) and MA degrees at NTSU in
Denton, Texas, Jay began his teaching
career in
Nocona, Texas then at Denton Jr. High
and then attended Episcopal Seminary in
Austin. He returned to
education in 1960 in
Mesquite, Texas until his retirement
in 1985. The last 19 years he was principal
of C. A. Tosch Elementary. One year after
retirement, the MISD School Board honored
him by voting to name a future school for
him. The Jay R. Thompson Elementary at 2525
Helen Lane opened in 1995. Jay and Helen
enjoyed many happy times camping with
friends and playing dominoes and cards with
the grandkids. In 2004 Jay was proud to take
his daughters and grandkids to Washington
D.C. to see the newly completed World War II
Memorial. Jay was a faithful member of St.
Thomas Anglican Church in
Jacksboro, Texas.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at St.
Thomas Anglican Church,
Jacksboro, Texas on Saturday, March
15 at 2:00 pm. A memorial service will be
held in
Mesquite, Texas date and time TBA.
Interment will be at
DFW National Cemetery. Please no
flowers but memorials may be sent to your
favorite charity or to Gladys Johnson
Ritchie Public Library, 626 West College
Street in
Jacksboro, Texas 76458 or to
Concerned Citizens at 400 East Pine Street
in
Jacksboro, Texas 76458.
Jay Richards Thompson
Tributes
Name: Linda Marshall
Address: 318 Stroud Lane
City: Garland
State/Province:
Texas
Zip/Postal Code: 75043
Home Phone:
972.279.1184
Email Address:lmarshall@mesquiteisd.org
Relation: School fried From: School friend
Tribute: Jay was always willing to assist my
family and me with anything we needed. I
remember Jay driving the streets of Mesquite
putting out campaign signs for my
grandfather, TH McDonald. I served with him
on several MEA committees and he loved
students, teachers and MISD. We have lost a
champion for educators, but God has already
put him to work With love and fond
memories....Linda McDonald Marshall
------------------------------------------------
Name: Anjanette Murry
Address: 2525 Helen Lane
City: Mesquite
State/Province:
Texas
Zip/Postal Code: 75181
Home Phone:
972-882-7190
Email Address:
amurry@mesquiteisd.org
Relation: Principal of Thompson Elem.
From: Mesquite
Tribute: The staff and students will greatly
miss our regular visits and correspondence
with Mr. Thompson. He was a very dear man to
many people here and will be long
remembered.
------------------------------------------------
Name: Russonna Jones-Briscoe
Address: 400
East Pine
City: Jacksboro
Zip/Postal Code: 76458
Tribute: Jay was loved by everyone at
Concerned Citizens. I can still see Jay and
Helen walking to and from the dining room
each day holding hands. What a sweet couple.
He delivered meals on wheels as long as he
was able. We had an ad needing volunteers
and he came and said he would drive but
wasn't able to get in and out. The minute
Jean stopped teaching that is exactly what
he did...drove her around while she got out
with the meals!! He encouraged and
challenged others to donate so the center
would have a walk in freezer. That was how
he was --he saw a need and wanted to take
care of it. He will be missed. Love,
Russonna
Jones-Briscoe, Director
------------------------------------------------
Name: Valerie Ludley Nelson
Address: 1208 New Market
City: Mesquite
State/Province:
Texas
Zip/Postal Code: 75149
Email Address:
vnelson@mesquiteisd.org
Relation: educato
From:
educator
Tribute: I had the pleasure of meeting Mr.
Thompson as a teacher at Jay R. Thompson
Elementary in Mesquite. I was new to the
district and had the priviledge of opening
that new school as a 1st grade teacher. Mr.
Thompson visited often and the children
thought he was a treat to talk to. The
education community has lost a jewel.
------------------------------------------------
Name: Kenneth V. Adams
Address: 3126 Hula Drive
City: Mesquite
State/Province:
Texas
Zip/Postal Code: 75150-2577
Home Phone:
972-279-3941
Email Address:
kva1223@aol.com
Relation: Friend & comrade in PHSA
From: 1992
Tribute: Jay was one of the most honorable,
respected Christian men I have ever known.
He was a great inspiration to me and all of
us here in our Pearl Harbor Survivors
Association, North Central Texas Chapter
Four. He served as our Chaplain for years. I
will really miss him.
------------------------------------------------
Name: Patti Tramel
Address: 2525 Helen
City: Mesquite
State/Province:
Texas
Zip/Postal Code: 75181
Home Phone:
972-882-7190
Email Address:
ptramel@mesquiteisd.org
Relation: Thompson Elementary Secretary
Tribute: Mr. Thompson was always friendly
and kind when he came to visit
our school. We are going to miss his
smiling face. His life made an unbelievable
difference for others. He has left a legacy
that will last forever. I am very fortunate
to have met this wonderful man. He will
truly be missed. I know your family will
find comfort in knowing he has made many
friends through his life's journey.
Sincerley,
Patti Tramel J. R. Thompson Elementary
Secretary
------------------------------------------------
Name: Ed and Uvonne Dewberry
Address: 183 St. Clare Drive
City: Crowley
State/Province:
Texas
Zip/Postal Code: 76036
Relation: Friends
From:
Mesquite, TX
Tribute: We loved Jay and Helen. We were
introduced to them through Byron and Georgie
Butler, and it was a lasting friendship. We
remember camping with Jay and Helen in 1967
when we went to
Colorado with them and the Butlers.
Remember, Paula? It was one of the best
vacations we ever had. We send our love and
sympathy, Ed & Uvonne
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