Roll Call Tribute
Patrick "Pat" Thompson '95 July 18, 2016 9:16 AM updated: July 18, 2016 9:21 AM
Hillier Funeral Home - College Station obituary
4080 State Hwy 6 South
College Station, TX, US, 77845
(979) 985-2060
Patrick Gaines Thompson
July 11, 1940 - July 14, 2016
Patrick Gaines Thompson, devoted husband, father, and friend, passed away on Thursday July 14, 2016.
Born on July 11, 1940, in Long Beach California, Pat was the only child of William Josiah “WJ” Thompson and Rose Natalie Bey Thompson. His father was an aviation mechanic who later owned service stations. His mother stayed at home with Patrick and later worked as a clerk in a department store. As a boy, Patrick loved the outdoors and developed a lifelong love for the water and fishing. Growing up Pat would work in his father’s service stations and became mechanically inclined at an early age. He would often take apart machines just to discover how they worked. He was especially proud of a .270 caliber rifle he built on his own. Apart from these interests, Patrick was involved in his local Catholic parish serving as an altar boy. Patrick attended St. Anthony’s Catholic High School in Long Beach, California.
After graduation from high school, Patrick enlisted in the United States Navy, serving from 1961-1963. He credited the discipline of the Navy for helping him overcome the dyslexia and ADHD with which he struggled in his grade school years. He was the first person in his family to pursue higher education and graduated from Long Beach State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Arts. His lifelong pursuit of knowledge led him to earn a Master’s Degree in Education from Texas A&M University and later his Doctorate Degree in Philosophy from Texas A&M.
Patrick was a devoted family man. Through mutual friends, he met Marie Kenney in San Diego, California in 1969. They were married on October 17, 1970. Including a daughter from a previous marriage, Patrick had four children: Michelle, Drake, Chris and Ryan. Patrick was extremely proud of each of his children and their successes. Patrick loved being involved in his children’s pursuits and grew closer to them while coaching their various soccer and little league teams. His children would say “Dad was always my biggest fan.” As a family, the Thompsons often vacationed in Newport, Rhode Island. Patrick would load the family in their van and drive the 2,000 mile journey with his old boat in tow. He loved taking his son’s camping, fishing and hunting.
For 42 years, Patrick devoted his career to oceanography and scientific research. He began his career at Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla, CA, working as part of the Deep Sea Drilling Program. When the program’s grant was transferred to Texas A&M in 1984, Patrick and Marie moved their family from San Diego to College Station. He continued his career with the “Integrated Ocean Drilling Program” with Texas A&M until 2010, when he retired. Outside of work, he was an avid reader and photographer. His grandchildren fondly remember PePaw with his many cameras. Later in life, he had great affection for his three beloved Labrador retrievers Jake, Mick and Barron.
Patrick was always willing to help a friend, neighbor or even a stranger with a mechanical problem. In this way he used his talents to serve others and teach his children and their friends by example. People will remember Patrick for his passion for learning, genuine curiosity about others, his willingness to help anyone, and his immeasurable love for his family.
Patrick is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Marie, as well as their children and daughters-in-law: Michelle Thompson (of Virginia), Drake & Tera Thompson (of New Braunfels), Chris & Jenifer Thompson (of Austin) and Ryan and Kelli Thompson (of Grapevine). His thirteen Thompson grandchildren will miss him dearly, including: Jake, Bailey, Garrett, Paul Kennedy, James, Carter, Julie, Bella, Lyla, Kameron, Bryce, Carlisle and Tristan.
Join us in celebrating the life of Patrick Thompson, beginning with Visitation from 6-8pm on Monday, July 18, 2016 at Hillier Funeral Home in College Station. Funeral services will follow--in the same location--at 10am on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Interment will be at College Station City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Brazos Valley (502 West 26th St., Bryan, TX 77803) and Brazos Valley Parkinson's Association (checks made payable to "BVPA," c/o Ben White, 4759 Stonebriar Circle, College Station, TX 77845).
Visitation
JUL 18. 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Hillier Funeral Home - College Station
4080 State Hwy 6 South
College Station, TX, US, 77845
Celebration of Life
JUL 19. 10:00 AM
Hillier Funeral Home - College Station
4080 State Hwy 6 South
College Station, TX, US, 77845
wecare@hillierfh.com
Reception
JUL 19. 11:00 AM
Hillier Funeral Home - College Station
4080 State Hwy 6 South
College Station, TX, US, 77845
Cemetery Details
College Station Cemetery
2530 Texas Ave S.
College Station, TX,
wecare@hillierfh.com
4080 State Hwy 6 South
College Station, TX, US, 77845
(979) 985-2060
Patrick Gaines Thompson
July 11, 1940 - July 14, 2016
Patrick Gaines Thompson, devoted husband, father, and friend, passed away on Thursday July 14, 2016.
Born on July 11, 1940, in Long Beach California, Pat was the only child of William Josiah “WJ” Thompson and Rose Natalie Bey Thompson. His father was an aviation mechanic who later owned service stations. His mother stayed at home with Patrick and later worked as a clerk in a department store. As a boy, Patrick loved the outdoors and developed a lifelong love for the water and fishing. Growing up Pat would work in his father’s service stations and became mechanically inclined at an early age. He would often take apart machines just to discover how they worked. He was especially proud of a .270 caliber rifle he built on his own. Apart from these interests, Patrick was involved in his local Catholic parish serving as an altar boy. Patrick attended St. Anthony’s Catholic High School in Long Beach, California.
After graduation from high school, Patrick enlisted in the United States Navy, serving from 1961-1963. He credited the discipline of the Navy for helping him overcome the dyslexia and ADHD with which he struggled in his grade school years. He was the first person in his family to pursue higher education and graduated from Long Beach State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Arts. His lifelong pursuit of knowledge led him to earn a Master’s Degree in Education from Texas A&M University and later his Doctorate Degree in Philosophy from Texas A&M.
Patrick was a devoted family man. Through mutual friends, he met Marie Kenney in San Diego, California in 1969. They were married on October 17, 1970. Including a daughter from a previous marriage, Patrick had four children: Michelle, Drake, Chris and Ryan. Patrick was extremely proud of each of his children and their successes. Patrick loved being involved in his children’s pursuits and grew closer to them while coaching their various soccer and little league teams. His children would say “Dad was always my biggest fan.” As a family, the Thompsons often vacationed in Newport, Rhode Island. Patrick would load the family in their van and drive the 2,000 mile journey with his old boat in tow. He loved taking his son’s camping, fishing and hunting.
For 42 years, Patrick devoted his career to oceanography and scientific research. He began his career at Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla, CA, working as part of the Deep Sea Drilling Program. When the program’s grant was transferred to Texas A&M in 1984, Patrick and Marie moved their family from San Diego to College Station. He continued his career with the “Integrated Ocean Drilling Program” with Texas A&M until 2010, when he retired. Outside of work, he was an avid reader and photographer. His grandchildren fondly remember PePaw with his many cameras. Later in life, he had great affection for his three beloved Labrador retrievers Jake, Mick and Barron.
Patrick was always willing to help a friend, neighbor or even a stranger with a mechanical problem. In this way he used his talents to serve others and teach his children and their friends by example. People will remember Patrick for his passion for learning, genuine curiosity about others, his willingness to help anyone, and his immeasurable love for his family.
Patrick is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Marie, as well as their children and daughters-in-law: Michelle Thompson (of Virginia), Drake & Tera Thompson (of New Braunfels), Chris & Jenifer Thompson (of Austin) and Ryan and Kelli Thompson (of Grapevine). His thirteen Thompson grandchildren will miss him dearly, including: Jake, Bailey, Garrett, Paul Kennedy, James, Carter, Julie, Bella, Lyla, Kameron, Bryce, Carlisle and Tristan.
Join us in celebrating the life of Patrick Thompson, beginning with Visitation from 6-8pm on Monday, July 18, 2016 at Hillier Funeral Home in College Station. Funeral services will follow--in the same location--at 10am on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Interment will be at College Station City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Brazos Valley (502 West 26th St., Bryan, TX 77803) and Brazos Valley Parkinson's Association (checks made payable to "BVPA," c/o Ben White, 4759 Stonebriar Circle, College Station, TX 77845).
Visitation
JUL 18. 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Hillier Funeral Home - College Station
4080 State Hwy 6 South
College Station, TX, US, 77845
Celebration of Life
JUL 19. 10:00 AM
Hillier Funeral Home - College Station
4080 State Hwy 6 South
College Station, TX, US, 77845
wecare@hillierfh.com
Reception
JUL 19. 11:00 AM
Hillier Funeral Home - College Station
4080 State Hwy 6 South
College Station, TX, US, 77845
Cemetery Details
College Station Cemetery
2530 Texas Ave S.
College Station, TX,
wecare@hillierfh.com
505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 845-7514
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