David MacDonald Thompson

Dave was a true warrior and after graduating from Haddon Heights High School in New Jersey he joined the US Marine Corps and was stationed in Italy.

When his tour was completed he returned to the United States and he joined the US Army and volunteered to be deployed to Viet Nam. He was a door gunner for 13 months, surviving being shot down more than once.

After returning to Hawaii he was stationed at Schofield Barracks in the 25 Infantry Division, known as Tropic Lightning. He was deployed to Viet Nam, this time as a Platoon Sargent.

He was shot through both legs but returned to battle after 2 months in the hospital. Upon his return from Viet Nam he was stationed at Ft. Dix, NJ where he ran a record fire range.

While at Ft. Dix Dave met Bonnie Joan Wimmers in March, 1968 at Ripcord ParaCenter. Dave made over 2000 skydives and he acted as Bonnie’s jumpmaster. They were married at Ft. Dix on June 29, 1968.

On July 27, 1973 Tracy Ann Thompson was born and Dave became a devoted father who cherished this child. He was her hero, and it was a well- deserved title as he supported her in every endeavor.

After leaving the Army, he joined the Air Force as a Flight Engineer as well as starting a new career as a fish spotter. He flew a Piper Super Cruiser over the ocean setting a commercial tuna boat on schools of Giant Tuna. This was his passion for over 30 years, flying for the F/V White Dove and then the F/V White Dove Too. He was featured in a National Geographic television special on Commercial Fishing for Giant Tuna.

Dave and Bonnie moved to The Villages in 1999 and in 2004 Tracy moved to Florida and settled in nearby Ocklawaha.

2015 Dave got a lot of practice handicapping Thoroughbred racehorses when Bonnie founded Tropic Lightning Racing Stable, LLC in honor of Dave and all the Viet Nam Veterans. Most of the horses carry military names: Take Command, who won the Carry Back Stakes at Gulfstream Park in 2019; and Door Gunner Dave both trained at Abracadabra Farms; Plane Jane, 2019 filly and Ready on the Line, 2020 colt are both homebreds by Field Commission and growing up at Solera Farm.

Neither prostate cancer nor liver cancer could beat Dave. But he could not win his battle with Alzheimer’s disease. COVID-19 locked down all nursing homes and memory care facilities the day he entered a memory care facility on March 26, 2020.

From that day on he was unable to be seen or hugged by his family until he entered Hospice on June 29, 2020. That was our 52nd anniversary and he was finally seen by Bonnie and Tracy. But he no longer knew us.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Interment with full military honors will be at the National Cemetery in Bushnell Fl.

Donations in honor of Dave can be sent to:

Southeastern Guide Dogs, Paws for Patriots Division; 4210 77th St. East, Palmetto, FL 34221 or on line www.guidedogs.org;

Thoroughbred Retirement of Tampa, P.O. Box 1621, Oldsmar, FL. 34677-1621 or on line www.tampatrot.org.

Please note in “honor of David MacDonald Thompson.”

Dave’s battle ended on July 9, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.