Glenn Reed Thompson of Toledo, Wash., passed away Dec. 8, 2018, at Providence Centralia Hospital. Glenn was born April 3, 1924, at Orting, Wash., to Noel L. and Inez M. (McDowell) Thompson. His family moved to Toledo in 1925. He attended Toledo schools for 12 years and was a boy scout. He graduated in 1942, and worked for six months for the Washington State Forestry Service before being drafted into the United States Army.
During basic training in Texas, Glenn was assigned to the 302nd Signal Operations Battalion, which supported the Normandy invasion and several other European theater campaigns. He returned in 1946, as a decorated veteran of World War II, having served in England, France, Luxembourg and Germany.
After returning from the war, Glenn worked as a gyppo logger for 15 years. He married Marie Kirkendoll in 1957, and purchased a farm in the Cowlitz River Valley where he raised black angus cattle and hay for 25 years. In 1969, he also became a school bus driver for Toledo. During his 20 years of driving, he logged over a quarter of million miles and was fond of saying that he went to Toledo Schools for 32 years.
After his retirement in 1989, he remained active by doing custom haying, cutting and selling over 500 cords of firewood, trapping over 2,000 moles on his farmland, bird watching, and doing crossword and sudoku puzzles.
Glenn and Marie had three children, Ada, Daná and Scott. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Ada in 1962; father, Noel in 1970; mother, Inez in 1975; his wife, Marie in 2010; and his brother, Lee of Port Angeles in 2017.
Survivors include his daughter, Daná (Mike) Freeland of Kent; his son, Scott (Sheryl) Thompson of Toledo; five grandchildren, Todd, Kaleb, Jillian, Margaret and Katrina; and two great grandchildren, Tyler and Bianca.
One of Glenn’s greatest honors was receiving the French Legion of Honor Medal in 2017, for his service in France during World War II. Memberships he held included the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Angus Association, National Geographic Society and the Smithsonian.
There will be a graveside service at Lone Hill Cemetery Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018, at 3 p.m., led by Reverend Bill Morris. A reception will immediately follow at Cowlitz Prairie Grange, Toledo, Wash. All family and friends are invited to attend. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Cattermole Funeral Home of Winlock. Those wishing to make contributions in his memory may do so to the American Legion Post 101, P.O. Box 160, Winlock, WA 98596.
