Claude Thompson

Claude McKinley Thompson, 86, Retired aeronautical engineer, died Friday, December 9, 2016, surrounded by family. Born in Paris, Texas, on July 26, 1930, Claude grew up in Texarkana, AR. A sharecroppers son, he learned to work hard at such jobs as “picking his weight” in cotton and planting crops behind a team of mules. In high school, he was an athlete and thespian. He studied at Magnolia A & M College in Magnolia, AR, working his way through with many part-time jobs. A junior engineer position at Cessna drew him to Wichita, and in nearby Hutchinson, he met surgical nurse Shirley Jean Peverley on a blind date. They married July 25, 1954. As a young husband and father, he finished his Bachelors Degree at Wichita University. He worked for several Wichita aircraft companies, retiring in 1996 as chief of structures after 32 years at Gates Lear Jet. A devoted gardener and carpenter, he also actively volunteered at his church. His servant heart drew him to join the Midian Shrine Tin Lizzie and Van units, and logged 25,000 miles driving patients to the Shriners Hospital in St. Louis, MO. He was known for his sweet smile, generous spirit, quick wit, tenacity and love of family. He was preceded in death by his mother, Dovie Mae Thompson; father, Claude M. Thompson, Sr.; step-mother, Opal Thompson; step-brother, William Thompson; sister, Beatrice Joyce Hall. Survived by his wife, Shirley Thompson; daughters, Stephanie Thompson of Kansas City, MO, Melissa Maher of Albuquerque, NM, Beth Rhodes of Springfield, MO, Amy Timmons of Wichita; brother, J.D. Thompson of Kerrville, TX; step-sister, Sue Thompson of Texarkana,TX; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Visitation will be from 6 – 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 14, 2016, at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, December 15, 2016, at Westwood Presbyterian Church. Memorials have been established with Shriners Hospitals for Children, 4400 Clayton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110; Midian Shrine Center, 130 N. Topeka, Wichita, KS 67202 and Westwood Presbyterian Church, 8007 W. Maple, Wichita, KS 67209.