Raybourne Thompson Jr.

Raybourne Thompson Jr., husband of Virginia, father of Virginia Mary, Helen and Patricia passed away peacefully at his home in Houston, surrounded by his loving family, on the morning of Monday, the 7th of September 2015.

Raybourne was born in Houston on the 18th of May 1936, to Raybourne and Mary Helen Thompson. He attended school in Houston, graduating from Lamar High School. He served three years in the United States Marine Corps, graduated from Southern Methodist University with a degree in Accounting and received his LLB from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1963. He was employed by Vinson and Elkins Law Firm and became a Partner, specializing in Personal Injury and Aviation Litigation. He remained at the firm for his entire legal career. At the time of his retirement, he had tried more cases in front of a jury than anyone in the Vinson and Elkins Law Firm’s history.

In 1965, he married Virginia Mary Oxford. This union was blessed with three daughters and ten grandchildren. Since the age of sixteen, Raybourne’s greatest enjoyment was the building and flying of aircraft. During his lifetime, he built numerous airplanes and one helicopter. He acquired many flying ratings including, Airline Transport Pilots Rating, Aircraft Mechanic and Power Plant Rating with Inspection Authorization. He served as a Trustee of the Elwood Foundation for 30 years.

Raybourne is survived by his wife of fifty years, Virginia; daughters, Virginia Mary Thompson Brown and her husband Raymond Lloyd Brown Jr., Helen Sayford Thompson Burt and her husband Prentiss Clower Burt, and Patricia Oxford Thompson Lawrence and her husband John Eric Lawrence; and his precious grandchildren Raymond Lloyd Brown III, Raybourne Thompson Brown, Patrick Burton Brown, Joseph Walker Brown, John Prentiss Burt, Mary Helen Burt, Raybourne Edward Burt, Sadie Oxford Lawrence, John Patrick Lawrence and Beaumont Cunningham Lawrence. He is also survived by Ned and Connie Thompson, Hubert and Cindy Oxford, Patrick and Katie Oxford, Denis and Angela Oxford, Mary Oxford, and numerous Oxford nieces and nephews.

The entire family wishes to thank the wonderful doctors at MD Anderson, especially Dr. Sheeba Thomas, Multiple Myeloma and Dr. Elias Jabbour, Leukemia, for their expertise, care and kind concern for our Dad. We are grateful for all the nurses and staff at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

A Mass of Christian Burial is to be conducted at ten o'clock in the morning on Thursday, the 10th of September, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road in Houston, where Msgr. Frank H. Rossi, S.T.L., is to celebrate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Parish Life Center.

The Rite of Committal is to follow, via an escorted cortège, at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Raybourne’s memory be directed to St. Michael Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road, Houston, TX, 77056; or the charity of one’s choice.