Memorials › Howard Lee Thompson Jr

Howard Lee Thompson Jr

28 Apr 1929 – 23 Jan 2013

Birth28 Apr 1929
Death23 Jan 2013
CemeteryResthaven Memorial Park
Rock Creek Township , Pottawatomie County , Oklahoma , USA
Added byOklahoma Wildflower on 09 Mar 2023
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/104100457

Bio

Howard Lee Thompson, Jr. , 83, died Wednesday, January 23 at St. Anthony Shawnee following complications of pneumonia. Howard was born to Howard and "Shorty" (Hogan) Thompson on April 28, 1929, in Macomb, OK. He attended several schools during his childhood. But after the family settled in Shawnee, he graduated from Shawnee High in 1947. While in high school, he was involved in many school activities and was the editor of the Wolves Journal his senior year. He attended college at Murray State in Tishomingo, Oklahoma Baptist University and Oklahoma State University. More importantly, he met the love of his life, Lora Dean Legg, whom he married on September 30, 1950.Their marriage lasted 62 years, until his death. Howard was one of the first married men drafted for the Koran Conflict. In 1952, following basic training in Paso Robles, CA, he was one of three men chosen to attend specialized Mountain Training in Colorado Springs. From there, he went to Austria as a member of the Occupational Forces patrolling the border between Austria and Russian. After completing his two years of active duty, he returned home in 1954, continuing to serve on Active Reserve as a Warrant Officer for 8 years. He worked as a civilian employee at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City. While at Tinker, he and Lora went on several TDY assignments at bases in San Antonio, TX; Dayton, Ohio, and Colorado Springs. At the time of his retirement from Tinker in 1987, Howard was a Logistics Management Specialist for the E-3 AWACS division. His retirement years were busy and full. He played golf regularly, was an avid reader, spent time for both pleasure and research on his computer, and traveled with Lora. After his Alzheimer's diagnosis three years ago, he was fully engaged in life. He researched this disease and was proactive in preparing his home and Lora for the challenges that would someday come. While medication was effective for a time, the disease accelerated rapidly during this past year. The family is grateful that his passing was peaceful, with Lora at his side as always. Howard was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Floyd Thompson. He is survived by his loving wife, Lora; his sister, Juanita Lee and her husband Jimmy; several nieces, nephews and a special friend, Larry Bratcher.

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