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David was born April 6, 1938 to Lloyd and Velma (Dixie) Thompson at Prague, Oklahoma. They lived in Prague until Lloyd joined the Army during WWII. David, his older brother Gene, and their mother lived there until Lloyd’s return. The family then lived on the Blue River in southern Oklahoma for a few years and a younger brother, Tom, was born.
Soon after, the parents divorced, and Dixie and the three boys moved to Bristow where her parents lived. The boys attended Bristow Schools, hunted and fished the country around Bristow, had paper routes, and were generally boys. David and Gene both played basketball, football, and ran track as they got older. The younger brother by seven and nine years, respectfully, was an avid fan, but too young to participate. All three boys graduated from Bristow High School with a one year break when the older two went to Cushing Schools while living with their dad.
David, John Lunsford, Billy Lunsford, and Ethan Bigpond won state in the mile relay (before 1A, 2AA, etc.) existed. Gene had gone to Northeastern State, now NSU, on a basketball scholarship, so David joined the Navy on graduation. He served two years on the USS Toledo clerking in the Chief’s office. He often thanked his high school typing teacher for keeping him out of less pleasurable duties.
After leaving the Navy, he attended Northeastern for a semester, then went to work for Halliburton. He was assigned to Woodward for two years, then Seminole, and finally back in Bristow. When this happened, he and Kathy Holcomb, also a Bristow graduate, were married July 10, 1961 and remained married until his death March 13, 2024. After another year of Halliburton, David decided to return to school to become a teacher. He taught, coached, and became principal at Lone Star School in Sapulpa. He had many successful years always telling his boys in a tournament. “It’s great if we win the tournament, but you better win the Sportsmanship trophy!” which they often did.
His spare time, though, was consumed with hunting, fishing, and raising cattle. He and Kathy had a daughter, Megan, and a son, Clay, who also attended and graduated from Bristow schools. Many family vacations were spent in Colorado where he and Kathy took summer courses at Western State College in Gunnison. He, Gene, and other hunting partners, including Clay, elk hunted in the region several seasons...usually with good luck.
Another pastime he nourished later in life was auction sales. He loved going, and the auctioneers loved seeing him there. His favorite buy was the boxes of “junk” no one wanted. He spent hours in the barn sorting and eyeing his “finds”. He would also buy old, dilapidated farm equipment and painstakingly restore it to running condition. “The rustier, the better” seemed to be his motto whether it was something he already had or a new, to him, item.
After retirement from teaching, he served one term as State Representative for District 29 on the education committee among others. He was particularly proud of being part of HB1017 creating aides in rooms with large enrollment and funding teacher’s salaries. By this time he had “perfect” grandchildren. Megan had Aidan, Finn, and Esme ODonnell and Clay had David Osceola Thompson. All were the “apple” of his eye, and he became known as PawPaw Tractor...all loving the outdoors and country as he did. He drove the poor tellers at the bank insane with his constant photographs and stories of his grandchildren.
After surgery for a brain tumor in 2010, he had serious health issues and was living in Rainbow Assisted Living until a hospitalization December 27, 2023. From there his health declined until his death March 13, 2024 at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
David was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd Thompson, and his mother, Dixie Thompson. He is survived by his wife, Kathy Thompson of Bristow; his brother Gene Thompson and wife, Carolyn of Bristow; his brother, T.J. Thompson and wife, Sheril of Norman; his daughter Megan O’Donnell and husband, Frank of Olympia, Washington and their children, Aidan, Finn, and Esme O’Donnell; his son, David Clay Thompson and wife, Vina, of Tahlequah and their son Petty Officer David Osceola Thompson of Charleston, SC, and daughter, Victoria Keen, husband, John and their children April and Rhea; numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of gracious caregivers at Rainbow Health Care.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer's Association or a charity of choice.
Memorial services will be held 1:00 pm, Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Hutchins-Maples Matherly Chapel. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.hutchinsmaplesfuneralhome.com.
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