GOODBYE "MISTER T"

Sadly, I heard from NANCY THOMPSON BAKER this morning that her last living brother had passed away. If I remember correctly from our high school days, he was called Junior. I think the name his students gave him, "Mister T", shows not only was he thought of affectionately, but he was given the respect he was due. NANCY, please know we send our love and condolences to you and your family in this time of loss.

Claude Thompson, Jr.

Claude Thompson, Jr., also known as Mister T to many, passed away on March 1, 2020. Claude was born in Runnels County, Texas on October 19, 1925 to Claud Thompson and Verda Mae (Yancey) Thompson.

Claude grew up on the family ranch, where he, with his brother and sisters, helped the family deal with livestock, also running a farm on acreage nearby. Ranching at the convergence of the Concho and Colorado rivers afforded the sons a chance to fish, frequently “noodling” catfish in a favorite water hole.

Claude's mother was a school teacher, and educated the children, along with others from Ballinger, Bethel and Paint Rock Texas. At the age of 17, Claude hitchhiked to Texas A&M, where he enrolled in classes leading to an agriculture engineering degree.

As WWII raged, Claude took a deferral from his education and joined the US Army, serving with distinction in the European Theater as an infantryman. Claude earned 2 Bronze Stars during his military career. Following discharge, Claude returned to A&M, finishing his studies in 1946.

Immediately following his graduation, Claude went to work for the United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, where he was assigned to Rotan Texas in Fisher County. While working in Rotan, Claude met Frances Sargent, and they were married. There, they raised son, Glenn Sargent Thompson.

Eventually, Claude transferred to Haskell Texas, where another son, Gregory Layne Thompson, was born. The Thompson family lived in Haskell Texas until late 1966, when Claude transferred to Uvalde Texas. There, Claude and Frances remained until Frances' passing in 2013, at which point Claude moved to Pflugerville, Texas, where Claude lived with Greg and Linda Thompson. Claude spent the last years of his life under the care of Sodalis Assisted Living, Memory Care unit.

Following Claude's retirement in 1996, he went back to work with the Uvalde Independent School District as a substitute teacher. While at UHS, Claude was affectionately referred to by students and staff as “Mister T”.

Claude was preceded in death by his son Glenn, brother Robert, and wife Frances. He is survived by his sisters, Shirley Mohler and Nancy Baker and husband Jake, son Greg and wife Linda, grandchildren Taadamexa Thompson Smith and husband Travis, Tanya Lynn Thompson McGonagill and husband John (JP), Tulley Nolan Thompson and wife Jacqueline, Susan Bethany Thompson and husband Matt Brown, 8 great-grandchildren, and countless nieces and nephews.

Services will be conducted by Chaplain Mike McClung of Hope Hospice at 11:30 March 7, 2020 at Rushing Estes Knowles Mortuary in Uvalde. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Hope Hospice of New Braunfels 611 N. Walnut ave. New Braunfels, Tx. 78130, or at hopehospice.net/donations.

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Do any of you recognize these? One of them contains emergency food for one person for 30-days. I'm not sure what a bucket contains, but my younger son informed me I will be getting one delivered to me tomorrow. Why? At first I thought he was up to his old tricks. He's known in the family as a big practical joker. This time, he isn't joking. He has ordered enough of them for his family of four as well. The threat of a Coronavirus pandemic - and the fact that there is already a victim in San Antonio (75-miles from Austin) and a person being monitored here in Travis County leads one to believe it is here. 

Not only am I now 80 years old, but I have COPD and use oxygen. A friend sent me this recently: "A rather sad realization is that it is inevitable that I will eventually get this virus, as most people will, and then it has a good chance to kill me. (Being 80.) It p***** me off; I did not want to die that way." Nor do I, my friend!

Our classmate JUNE HASH CURRY told me that she is not worried about all the negative news about the virus as she is very strong in her belief that God is watching over her and her loved ones, and that she will only leave this earth when it is her time to go. 

Whatever your belief, please take any precautions necessary to prevent becoming a victim to this latest scourge on the planet. Things are bad enough in our government and all of the negative politics we are witnessing. Watch upbeat movies on TV, listen to your favorite music, and read The Good News Network to remind yourself that "this too, shall pass away."

Let me know how you are coping with the thought of the Coronavirus spreading as well as the dispressing political scene we have been witnessing. Share the "good stuff" happening in your life!

Peace and love,
Marilyn

P.S.
As I was writing this, my electricity went off twice today, knocking out my internet service as well. It took Spectrum four hours to get it up and running again. During that time I missed some important news. Son Craig texted me that the powers that be in Austin have canceled SXSW (South by Southwest - https://www.sxsw.com/) due to the spread of the Coronavirus. This is an annual event that brings hundreds of thousands of people from many parts of the world to Austin. Sadly, this will cause a huge revenue loss to many, but the danger inherent in the crowds that this festival and conference bring to our city is much too risky. I'm certain there are many such events (even Olympics in Japan) that will be affected before this year is over.