Jay Thompson

VIEW VIDEO TRIBUTE Jay Richards Thompson was born April 25, 1923 in Clayton, Texas and died March 12, 2008 in Jacksboro, Texas. His father, William Levi Thompson was a farmer and dealer in Watkins Products; his mother, Tex Emma Richards was a homemaker. Jay attended schools in Clayton, Gary and Terrell, Texas; joined the US Marine Corps in July 1941, did recruit training and sea school in San Diego; transferred to Marine Barracks, Honolulu, TH and then to Marine Detachment USS San Francisco on December 4, 1941 just prior to the sneak attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He served aboard the USS San Francisco for 2 and a half years and earned eleven battle stars on the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon and other decorations. Jay was able to attend the 50th Anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor with Helen and the 60th and 65th anniversaries with his daughters. He was a member of PHSA, DAV, the USS San Francisco Association, ATPE, TEPSA and several other organizations. The Richard Bard Chapter of the DAR also honored him by awarding him their Medal of Honor, their highest award. Medically discharged in January 1945, Jay met his future wife, Helen Ritchie, while he was a patient and she was a nurse at the VA Hospital in McKinney. They married on June 2, 1951, and were married almost 51 years at the time of her death in 2002. He is survived by their three children; Jean and husband Jerry Henderson of Jacksboro, Texas; John of Las Vegas, NV and Paula and husband Roger Koehler of Spring, Texas; and five grandchildren: Ben of Waco, Texas, Hannah of Lubbock, Texas and Pete, Emily and Michael of Spring, Texas; and five nieces: Kathy Rockenfeller of Amarillo, Texas, Susan Diggs of McAllen, Texas, Margaret Phoebe Haney of East Aurora, NY, Terry Stewart of California and Phyllis Stringfellow of Houston; and two nephews: Jay Clem of Santa Rosa, CA and Tommy Thompson of Bakersfield, CA. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Ethel Zybczynski of Hamburg, NY. After earning his BS (on the GI Bill) and MA degrees at NTSU in Denton, Texas, Jay began his teaching career in Nocona, Texas then at Denton Jr. High and then attended Episcopal Seminary in Austin. He returned to education in 1960 in Mesquite, Texas until his retirement in 1985. The last 19 years he was principal of C. A. Tosch Elementary. One year after retirement, the MISD School Board honored him by voting to name a future school for him. The Jay R. Thompson Elementary at 2525 Helen Lane opened in 1995. Jay and Helen enjoyed many happy times camping with friends and playing dominoes and cards with the grandkids. In 2004 Jay was proud to take his daughters and grandkids to Washington D.C. to see the newly completed World War II Memorial. Jay was a faithful member of St. Thomas Anglican Church in Jacksboro, Texas. Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Thomas Anglican Church, Jacksboro, Texas on Saturday, March 15 at 2:00 pm. A memorial service will be held at Thompson Elementary School at 2525 Helen Lane in Mesquite, Texas on Saturday April 5, 2008 at 2pm. Inurnment will be at DFW National Cemetery on Friday April 4, 2008 at 3:00 pm. Please no flowers but memorials may be sent to your favorite charity or to Gladys Johnson Ritchie Public Library, 626 West College Street in Jacksboro, Texas 76458 or to Concerned Citizens at 400 East Pine Street in Jacksboro, Texas 76458.

Jay Thompson

April 25, 1923 - March 12, 2008