Raymond Thompson

Raymond D. Thompson, 78, Longtime Atlantic resident, passed away Monday, February 26th, 2007 at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa. Ray was born in rural Lone Rock, Iowa, November 23rd, 1928 the son of Paul Maurice and Elizabeth Lizzy (Hinze) Thompson. During his childhood his family moved to rural Lu Verne, Iowa where he graduated from high school in 1948. He served in the Army Air Corp for 2 years. November 28th 1952 he was united in marriage to Phyllis Joy Wildman in Corwith, Iowa. In 1954 Ray joined the Iowa State Highway Patrol and was stationed in Des Moines. The early years of his patrol career he was assigned to the western third of Iowa as a trooper pilot and the family moved to Atlantic in 1959. After more than 34 years on the patrol in 1988 he retired from the Iowa State Patrol. Too spirited to relax in his retirement, he worked at Heritage House for 2 years and then managed Walnut Hill Terrace Apartments for 13 years retiring (again!) in 2003.Ray took great pride and enjoyment in being a flight instructor for the Patrol, the Atlantic, Greenfield, and Anita flying clubs. He had numerous aviation ratings and was a certified flight instructor for both private and commercial aviation. Ray loved training pilots whether his students learned for fun, to use in their business or go on to become Patrol, commercial, charter, or airline pilots. He was on the airport commission and was proud to be a part of the new airport expansion. Ray was a strong believer in keeping one"s mind active and loved to learn. He enjoyed working on the computer and challenged himself to create a website. The address to this ever-expanding project is www.metc.net/~kpkonect/ Raymond is survived by his wife, Phyllis Thompson of Atlantic, IA; a daughter, Deb Bergman and husband Kevin of Mason City, IA; 3 granddaughters, Amber Bergman and fiancé Russ Sampson of Ames, IA, Alisha Bergman of Mason City, IA and Monica Bergman of Mason City, IA; 1 grandson, Andy Olsen and wife Mindy of Moline, IL; 4 great grandchildren, Lydia, Luke, Tina and Ruth Olson of Moline, IL; 5 sisters, Genevieve Schoon and husband Ernest of Pocahontas, IA, Geneva Jessip and husband Leo of Chariton, IA, Ersel Rushton of Farnhamville, Pauline Rodgers and husband Bob of Fort Meyers, FL, and Joyce Stringfellow of Lake Alfred, FL; 1 sister-in-law, Jerrill Parham and husband Roger of Fairview, NC and a number of nieces and nephews and cousins.He was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth (Lizzy) Thompson; father, (Paul) Maurice Thompson; 1 granddaughter, Daniell Marie; mother-in-law, Iva Wildman; father-in-law, Neal Wildman and 2 brothers-in-law, Keith Rushton and John Stringfellow.The funeral service for Ray Thompson will be held Friday, March 2nd, at 1:00 pm in the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic, Iowa. There will be a visitation at the Roland Funeral Home Thursday, March 1st from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.Funeral InformationIN REMEMBRANCE OFRaymond Donald ThompsonBorn November 23, 1928Lone Rock, IowaENTERED INTO RESTFebruary 26, 2007At the age of 78 years, 3 months and 3 daysFUNERAL SERVICESaturday, March 3, 20071:00 P.M.First United Methodist Church Atlantic, IAOFFICIATINGPastor Gary DeGeestFirst United Methodist Church ~ Atlantic, IowaIOWA STATE PATROL SERVICEMUSICAL SELECTIONSCongregational SingingHymn of PromiseAll Things Bright and BeautifulORGANISTMarlene DeGeestBEARERSKevin Bergman Andy Olson Russ SampsonBob Miller Al Wede Merlin MeyerFLOWER COMMITTEEDeb Bergman Amber BergmanLUNCHEONRay's family has invited friends to join them for a luncheon at the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic.