Richard L. Thompson

The eldest son of Gordon and Lenora (Stewart) Thompson, Rich was one of five children, he was proceeded in death by his sisters Patricia and Nora, and brother Robert. He is survived by younger brother Gordon Jr.

He is survived by wife Jacklynn Woods Thompson, daughters Jennifer Thompson, Carol (Rob) Payne, Christine (Jeff) Franciski, Cindy (Mike) Gould, and grandchildren James (Lynn) Thompson, granddaughter Elizabeth (Durwin Talon) Thompson, Nickolas (Leah) Wilson, David Gould, and by great-grandsons Richard, Isaiah, Samuel, and Oliver.

During his 24-year career in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1981, Rich rose to the rank of Command Sergeant Major, the highest enlisted grade. He served overseas in the Panama Canal Zone and in the Federal Republic of Germany, and in the Republic of Vietnam for two combat tours as an infantry platoon sergeant. He was decorated with two Bronze Star medals (one with "V" device for valor), five Air Medals, the Army Commendation medal, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and a variety of service medals and letters of commendation. He instructed on machine guns, mortars, and small arms, and was a Drill Instructor for two years at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Initially assigned as a machine-gunner, he qualified on every infantry weapon, and was a competition marksman with pistol. He led his men through many firefights, and himself carried an injured soldier out of the line of fire to safety on at least one occasion. He made innumerable helicopter-borne assaults into "hot" landing zones, and once survived being shot down.

Rich (also known as "Butch") entered the service shortly after marriage to his high-school sweetheart, Jackie (nee Woods). They remained married for 61 years, traveling together to postings all over the United States, Central America, and Europe. He ended his Army career as the senior non-commissioned officer in charge of overseeing the Indiana Army National Guard, Southern Indiana District.

After retirement from the Army, Rich and Jackie returned to settle in their childhood hometown of Indianapolis. Rich worked as a hardware store assistant manager, then ran a specialty woodworking tools store for nearly twenty years.

Jackie gave Rich a motorcycle for their 45th anniversary and they took many rides together around southern Indiana. Rich enjoyed many charity rides with his daughters.

An avid golfer for his entire adult life, Rich was a founding member of the Wednesday Inside Nine Only (WINOs) golf league, with whom he played for decades. He also was a skilled bowler and was a fan of the Colts, Pacers, Indiana University basketball, and Notre Dame football.

An enthusiastic and skilled mechanic, Rich volunteered with the American Military Heritage Foundation, where he turned wrenches on a rare 1945 Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon bomber. He helped exhibit the historic plane at various airshows. He was also a private pilot, skydiver, boater, and sometimes water-skier.