Curtis Irving "Pappy" Thompson, 91, passed away at home surrounded by his children, sister, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
He was born to Franklin and Emma Thompson of Laramie, Wyoming, God's Country. He enlisted in the Cowboy Cannoneers 300th Armored Field Artillery "Battery C" Wyoming National Guard in 1951, took his first tour in the Korean War and ended his 35- year career with the 81st Armor Brigade October 1986 at Camp Murray Tacoma, Washington. Curtis was a lifetime member of the VFW post 12012, Onalaska, Washington, and also a long-standing member of the Alpha Grange #154 Onalaska, Washington.
Curtis is survived by sister Nancy Hiller, Tacoma, Washington; children Frank (Annie) Thompson, Troy, Montana, Donna Thompson, Centralia, Washington, Eva (Jesse) Valentine family home Rochester, Washington, Nancy Thompson Hobbs, Charlotte, North Carolina; 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Emma Thompson; love-of-his-life Fern Lucille "Lucy" Thompson; son Curt Allan Thompson; grandchildren Franklin Wilford Thompson and Wayne Allan Thompson.
Family will lay Curtis to rest alongside the love of his life, Fern, on Nov. 4, 2023 at 2 p.m., Alpha Grange. Celebration of Life with military honors will be in the spring of 2024. Time and place will be announced at a later date.
