Ed Thompson 1934-2021
Edwin “Ed” Ray Thompson, 86, of Lawrence, passed away Saturday, June 26, 2021, at The University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City.
He was born Aug. 5, 1934, in Centralia, Ill., the son of Loren and Callie (Eby) Thompson.
He married Carol E. Biester on May 29, 1953 in Soldier. They recently celebrated 68 years of marriage.
He is survived by his wife Carol; two daughters, Linda and Joyce; and grandson, Aaron Boos. His son David passed Feb. 13, 2015. Also surviving are close family friends, Paul Clark and Wanda Massangale of Arkansas, as well as many nieces and nephews. Ed was the last surviving of five children, preceded in death by two sisters, Anna Marie Williams and Lorena Dunigan, and by his two brothers, Ora “Tommy” Thompson and Roy Thompson.
Ed graduated from Soldier High School in 1952 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force that year. After they were married, Carol joined him at his military training location in North Carolina for six months, and he was then assigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska. He served as a dental technician until 1956 when he was discharged as staff sergeant.
After finishing his Air Force tour, Ed attended Washburn University and Emporia State University. He received his bachelor of science degree and master of science degree. He attended post-graduate studies at Iowa State University with scholarships for research studies.
Ed taught high school science in Auburn, Remson, Iowa, and Seaman School District, Topeka. Ed began a staff position at Kansas National Education Association as a UniServ representative for teachers. In that position, he served as their advocate and had a life-long commitment to teachers. He had positions with the Oklahoma, Nebraska and Arkansas Education Associations, retiring in 1996 in Arkansas, where he, Carol, Linda and David resided for many years until moving to Lawrence in 2009 to have all the family together.
Ed had a great love for all animals and the family has had a wide variety of pets (dogs, cats, chickens, guinea pigs, snakes, goats, rabbits, cow), and for a period of time he raised hogs. Ed loved reading and gardening, using his science background to improve the soil and try different growing techniques.
He really enjoyed fishing and would try to schedule a trip while on family vacations. He and Aaron had an especially memorable fishing trip together in Mexico, and he and Paul Clark had a standing yearly trip on the White River in Arkansas. Ed enjoyed spending time with his children, grandson and dear friends. Ed’s humor, kindness, patience and commitment to a kinder world will be greatly missed by those who knew him.
Memorial graveside service for Edwin “Ed” Thompson will be at Buck’s Grove Cemetery. Please meet at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton at 2 p.m. Friday, July 9 to go in procession to meet the family at the cemetery. Due to the family’s health concerns, you are asked to respect their requirement to wear masks at all times and please, no hugging, handshakes or other physical contact.
Memorials may be made to the Edwin R. Thompson Memorial Fund, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. Funds will be distributed to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association and/or the Alpena School District to fund educational supplies for students in need. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
