Denton Wayne Thompson

Denton Wayne Thompson, Sr. passed away on Friday, March 29, 2019 at Avenir Memory Care in Fayetteville. He was born on January 27, 1941 in Parkin, Arkansas and was one of 11 children. After graduating from Parkin High School, he married his childhood sweetheart, Claudia Jean Massena Thompson and they attended Henderson State Teacher’s College where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Education. He later earned his Masters and Specialists Degrees in Educational Administration from the University of Arkansas. After graduating from Henderson, he served in the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant, in Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Ok. He began his coaching career at Parkin High School from 1965-69. He served at Chaffin Jr. High School as head football coach from its opening in 1969-71. He moved to Alma as head football coach and Assistant High School Principal at Alma High School in 1971 until he became the first Principal of the Alma Middle School in 1976. He retired from education in 1987 to work for Primerica Financial Services.

Wayne was very involved in church, community and civic organizations. Throughout his career, he was involved with Army National Guard, Comprehensive Juvenile Services, Alma Little League Football, Alma Rotary, Alma Lion’s, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Ark/Oklahoma Middle School Consortium, Royal Rangers and Alma Area Chamber of Commerce.

He served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher and worked on several mission projects in Mexico building churches and orphanages.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Commodore Perry and Guy Eula Denton Thompson, six siblings and a grandson Mikell Patton McSpadden, Jr.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jeanie; his children, Mike and Malinda McSpadden and Denton Wayne (Skip) and Laura Thompson; his grandchildren, Matthew and Josie McSpadden, Mason and Kiley McSpadden, Denton Wayne (Trey), Anna and Sara Thompson, Landon and Haylei Moses; four great-grandchildren and four siblings.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Bowlin, Gary Byrd, Johnny Collier, Charlie Cook, Todd Dilbeck, David Fagan, Kenneth Hardcastle, Gary Huggins and John Wood.

Memorial service will be held 4:00 p.m. Monday, April 1, 2019 at Heritage Church in Van Buren with a visitation immediately following with Rev. Wes Hilliard and Rev. Glenn Thompson officiating, under the direction of Edwards Van Alma Funeral Home. A private family burial will precede the Memorial Service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to: Kiddie Kollege Alma – Feeding the Hungry program at 344 Fayetteville Avenue, Alma, AR 72921 OR Mikell McSpadden, Jr. Memorial Scholarship, c/o Alma Education and Arts Foundation, PO Box 2359, Alma, AR 72921.