MSgt. Gilbert Ray "Tom" Thompson

Tom was born in a cabin in LaRue County, Kentucky on November 1, 1934. President Abraham Lincoln was also born in a cabin in LaRue County, Kentucky. Tom was the son of the late William Gilbert Thompson and Lucille Underwood Maddox both of Kentucky.

Tom proudly joined the United States Air Force in 1956. He met his wife in 1960 when he came to Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana. His wife, Shirley Rose Barnard, was spending her 22nd birthday with her cousin Elizabeth “Libba” Driver Phillips. A man wanting to court Libba called her for a date. Libba said she would not go unless he had a friend for her cousin Shirley. That friend was Tom Thompson. They met on August 24, 1960 and married in Red Chute on December 3, 1960.

Tom served our country for 23 years with an expertise in Explosive Ordnance Disposal. During his service he was awarded the distinguished Bronze Star and the Air Force Commendation medal. He was a Vietnam Veteran and a survivor of a bomb explosion in Zaragoza, Spain. Doctors said that what saved his life were the contents he carried in his uniform chest pocket. In that pocket was his wallet that included a metal identification card his sister Patricia gave him and a picture of Jesus Christ. Those items stopped pieces of shrapnel. After 9 months in a body cast, Tom went on to recover and continue serving our country.

In 1978, Tom and his family returned to Barksdale Air Force Base to retire. After his military career, he worked at Frymaster Corporation in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was hired by the United States Postal Service and worked at the post office in Benton, Louisiana until his retirement in 1996.

In 1995, he and his wife Shirley, built their dream home in Haughton in which they affectionately named “Amen Acres”. Tom loved nature and all of God’s beauty it had to offer.

He became a Pappaw in 1998. He and his granddaughter, Kacie Rose spent a lot of time together on Amen Acres. He was blessed with the arrival of his grandson, Dustin, in 2006. Dustin had the same colored cotton top hair like his Pappaw. Their Pappaw loved them very much.

Tom leaves behind his wife of 54 loving and dedicated years, Shirley Rose Thompson. Three children, daughter Patricia Jo “P.J.” Thompson of Haughton, son Larry Ray Thompson and his wife Susan of Bossier City, daughter Tommie Lea Clanton and husband Daniel of Minden, and grandchildren Kacie Rose and Dustin Clanton. His sisters, Helen Roof, Louise McNair, Roberta Bowlin, and the late Patricia Blevins, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

The family wishes expression of sympathy to take form of a contribution of your choice to the Alzheimer’s Association, the EOD Wounded Warrior Foundation, or the Disabled American Veterans.