Lieutenant Colonel Earl Leroy Robert "Tommy" Thompson

© Walking Dead

Obit posted by Jo Aguirre
May 25, 1920 - Oct 28, 2009

© Enid News & Eagle
Published on Oct 30, 2009

He attended Fairmont and Enid Lutheran parochial schools. After graduation, he attended a technical school and became a machinist toolmaker. In September 1943, Tommy enlisted in the U.S. Army’s Cadet Pilot Training Program at Municipal University of Wichita, now Wichita State, to be followed by “hands on training” to become a pilot. With the end of the war in Europe, the program was canceled midway through. He stayed in the Air Force as a crew chief for the B-29s to escort the planes back to the United States from overseas. Since Tommy had stayed in the USAF when the cadet program restarted, he was commissioned, finished his training in February 1948 and was assigned to an air evacuation squadron. In 1949, he was sent to Hariman AFB on the west coast of Newfoundland. There he met Capt. Mary Shull, who became his wife of 58 years. They were married in the chapel at Boling AFB, where both were stationed. While assigned to Boling AFB, Tommy was selected to become aide de camp to Gen. Archie Old, the commanding general of the Air Force Command Headquarters. During his tour, his duties resulted in meeting and escorting President Harry Truman to join Gen. Old’s side the in the reviewing stand on the traditional parade route down Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C. In 1953, Tommy flew B-26 aircraft training for the Korean War. When the truce was called, he was assigned to the Pentagon for four years. During this time, he went to George Washington University and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in business. His assignments that followed included McGuire AFB, flying to and from Europe, Tachikawa AFB in Japan with the 5th Air Force, back to Maryland teaching ROTC as an assistant professor of air science, flying C-123 in and out of Saigon, South Vietnam, and finally back to the Pentagon where he retired on July 31, 1973, with 30 years as a senior lieutenant colonel. After his retirement he received his MBA from the University of Maryland. Tommy then headed a group of military families who had special needs children to establish a workshop in Washington, D.C., the first of its kind. It was the Vocational Services Institute, which is now Vocational Services Inc., and run by the U. S. government. Moving to Okarche, Tommy used knowledge of special needs workshops and served on the board of directors at the Center of Family Love for many years. After moving to Memphis for 10 years, the family returned to Okarche to return to the center. He was proud of his service to his country and taking care of his family. He stated few things made him prouder than commissioning his nephew, Don Winbolt, in the USAF while stationed at the Pentagon, and later after retirement, he commissioned his daughter Kathy in the USAF and later had the honor of pinning on her navigator wings.

He is survived by Mary Shull Thompson of the home; daughters, Katheryn Ann Tahiri, Ret. USAF, Lansing, Mich., and Sharon Sue Thompson of Okarche; granddaughter, Khamsin Tahiri of Chicago, Ill.; sister, Ruth Cocker of Ft. Smith, Ark.; 10 nieces and two nephews.

He was preceded by his mother, Elizabeth; brothers, Paul and Art; and a sister, Hazel Gearhard.

Tommy was awarded 16 decorations, which included Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal and Air Medal as well as 13 other commendations some with Oak Leaf Clusters.

The service will be 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Okarche, with Rev. David Ersland officiating.

Burial will be in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery with military honors under the direction of Huber-Benson Funeral Home of El Reno.

Memorials may be made to the Center of Family Love, P. O. Box 245, Okarche, OK 73762.

(Paid Obit 10-31-1)

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