Walter Gray McFarlane Thomson

Please call me

Walt

I was born: August 22, 1922 in Bells Hills,Scotland.

My family: I had one older and one younger brother.

Education: After graduating from High School, I had trade school training and took math and design engineering courses.

Marriage: I met my wife at Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx, NY.

We were married November 12, 1943 and have been blessed with more than 55 years together. We had one daughter and now have one grandchild.

Life work: I was an IBM design Engineer and manager and traveled all over the country to work on IBM manufacturing plants. I received patents for the engineering design of card readers and sorters and an award from IBM for outstanding contributions. I enjoyed being an inspiration to young engineers.

Hobbies: I enjoy art ? drawing, painting and carving wood, also swimming and playing with my dog.

Favorite music: Big band, Frank Sinatra and Scottish.

Favorite home: Endwell, NY, where we raised our daughter and had wonderful friends.

Favorite Prayers: St. Francis Assisi?s and the serenity prayers.

Walter Gray McFarlane Thomson

Walter was born in Bellshill, Scotland in August 1922 22nd or 23rd ?we are never really sure to Jeanie and William Thomson. He was the middle child between little Billy and beloved big brother and protector, John. He loved the green hills of Scotland and poet Robbie Burns, who he later quoted with a lyrical brogue. In 1929, he sailed in a steamer across the Atlantic with his brother to join his parents in the Bronx NYC where he continued many adventures from swimming in the Harlem River to singing in the choir of a huge Manhattan church. He met his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Alice Zuckerberg with the gorgeous blue eyes, at Christopher Columbus High and they continued to ?lindy? to big bands all their lives. Soon after graduating, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps to become a glider pilot. Alice joined him in Belleville IL Scott Field to be married November 12, 1943 and follow him through his training until Lubbock TX in 1944. He was sent overseas to fly troop transport in the Pacific and later, duty in Japan and Philippines. He returned to New York in 1946 to continue 55 years as a devoted loving husband and become the most wonderful father to their only child, Alyce, born in Poughkeepsie, August 1951.

Walter was a modern day Renaissance man, loving history, philosophy, music and the arts, with outstanding contributions in engineering design and management culminating in patents in machinery design and awards from IBM. But his family and friends will most treasure his incredible intellect, compassion, creativity, wit and humor, that are captured in part, in his many diverse and wonderful works of art. ?Walt? pursued most of his 30 year engineering and managerial career with IBM in Endwell NY where he and Alice raised Alyce and formed fast friendships with more of the ?greatest generation? as well as young engineers that he mentored. He loved sports, was a consummate swimmer, and of course, a diehard NY Giants fan, and with Alice doted over many adoring terrier dogs. He gave great counsel to his daughter all through school years and enjoyed many idyllic family vacations frolicking in the surf at the NJ shore. In Endwell, he cultivated gardens and transplanted his favorite ivy and flowering trees from NY to VA and back to NY in the ?70s and on to NJ in 1988 to be near Alyce and her husband Lowell Fritz and their baby, Alyssa born in August. Finally, he and Alice moved to Port Townsend WA in 1991 to be near the Fritzs, and to continue to help look after their granddaughter, inspiring her with his loving nature, creativity, humor and whimsy, and instilling in her a deep love and consideration for others, just as he had his daughter. Alice and Walter were a great team, particularly as parents and grandparents, instilling love, kindness, compassion, creativity, independence and confidence, always with a ready smile.

Daddy had a great sense of duty and of the need to work for the common good, but all the while remembering to be caring of his family and where possible, finding a reason to share a good laugh. ?Papa? leaves a legacy of happy memories, chuckles and guffaws, beautiful art, and a great love of life and of fellow man to be carried on in his memory. He was an amazing man and a beautiful, gentle soul. We will all miss him very much, but I know, most of all, he will want us to remember to love and find the best in ourselves and others.