Paul C. Thompson

Paul Chesman Thompson was born September 28, 1923 to Howard Michael and Leona Hazel (German) Thompson. He passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at his home at 808 Lodge Lane in Beloit.
Paul, or PT as many of his friends called him, grew up south of Glen Elder on the family farm. He graduated from Glen Elder High School in 1941. While in high school, he distinguished himself as a football player. He still has the first place medal he won in the shot put at the very first Beloit Relays.
He continued his education at Washburn University in Topeka, where he was a varsity letter winner in football and a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. During his sophomore year, he joined the Army, and was a combat veteran of World War II. During the war, he served under Gen. George S. Patton, was in the Battle of the Bulge, participated in 3 river crossings, and was in Europe through the end of the war in Europe. He was awarded the Silver Star with Valor. Although he did not talk about his war years unless pressed, he was very proud of his service during WWII, and his family was very proud of him.
He returned to Glen Elder after the war and married Mildred Bowman on March 15, 1946 in Downs, KS. They had two sons, Michael Paul and Phillip Joe. They lived south of Glen Elder and then moved to Glen Elder where they farmed and Paul was shop foreman at Richardson's Manufacturing Company. In 1965, Paul and Mildred bought Mastin and Mastin OK Tire, and moved to Beloit. He worked long hours to make Thompson's OK Tire a viable business, and even after he "retired" in 1992, he rarely missed a day of work.
He belonged to many tire organizations, and was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He was a birthright Quaker, and belonged to the First United Methodist Church of Beloit, where he attended regularly and maintained his Faith in the Lord.
He was preceded in death by his wife Mildred of 62 years, his brother Lloyd, and his parents, Howard and Hazel.
Left to mourn his passing and celebrate his life are his children Mike and Kathy Thompson and Phil and Carol Thompson, both of Beloit; his brother Rex and wife Joyce Thompson of Beloit; sister-in-law Barbara Brokaw and husband Orlo of Glen Elder; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Roy and Dorothy Timbers of Glen Elder, and sister-in-law Velda Bowman of Cawker City; four grandchildren Dr. Chad Thompson and wife Sheila, Suzann Bouray and husband Darwin, and Tony Thompson and wife Stacy, all of Beloit, and Dr. Matt Thompson and wife Christie of Washington, DC; six great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends from everywhere.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Tuesday, September 8, at the Beloit First United Methodist Church followed by burial in Glenwood Cemetery in Glen Elder. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 8:00 PM Monday at the McDonald Funeral Home in Beloit. Memorials may be given to the Paul & Mildred Thompson Scholarship Fund or the Mitchell County Hospital Capital Campaign Fund.