Horace Arthur Thompson Jr.

THOMPSON Horace Arthur Thompson, Jr. January 14, 1917 - November 5, 2010 Horace Arthur Thompson Jr was born on January 14, 1917 and died peacefully in his sleep on November 5, 2010 at his Lambeth House residence. He was preceded in death by his parents, Horace Arthur Thompson and Henrietta Rachel Deck of New Orleans and Waveland, Mississippi and his sister Dorothy Thompson Hubbard of Waveland, Mississippi. Horace is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Ethel Hyde Strack Thompson, their four children; Horace "Topper" Thompson III and his wife Susan of Washington, DC and Pass Christian, Mississippi; Carolyn Thompson Abaunza and her husband Donald, of New Orleans; Bruce Henry Thompson and his wife Bébé of New Orleans; Susan Louise Thompson of McAllen, Texas; eight grandchildren; Charles Clark Thompson , Jeffery Hyde Thompson, Donald Richard Abaunza Jr, Megan Thompson Lovoi, Todd Carrère Thompson, Sheldon Thompson Schmidt, Jove Graham, Forest "Fory" Graham, and four great grand-children, Phineas, Sage and Piper Thompson, and Thompson Schmidt. Horace graduated from Tulane University in 1938 where he earned a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering. He was active on campus as a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and competed in track, boxing, swimming, and diving. In his sophomore year Horace joined the first Platoon Leadership Class of the United States Marine Corps. He began his business career with the Humble Oil Company in Texas and later with the Standard Oil refinery in Baton Rouge. In early 1941 he began active duty with the Marine Corps on Midway Island in the Pacific. Lieutenant Thompson commanded an artillery battery and defended Midway the night of December 7, 1941 and again at the Battle of Midway. He served on General Douglas MacArthur's staff in the Philippines as one of four Marine liaison officers helping to plan the invasion of Japan. Following the war Horace commanded the New Orleans Marine Reserve unit until he retired from the Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1951. In 1946 Horace, "Punchy" as he was known to his business colleagues, founded Thompson Equipment Company, TECO, to provide advanced process equipment to the growing petro-chemical industries. The business thrived under his leadership and is today headed by his grandson. Through the years, he volunteered his time to many organizations and served on several boards including the Lambeth House, Junior Achievement, the Children's Hospital, and the Freedom Foundation. Horace particularly enjoyed returning to Audubon Montessori, where he attended grade school, to talk to the students about business and World War II. He was a member of Bay Waveland Yacht Club as well as several social clubs and carnival organizations. Horace loved sailing with his "first-mate", Ethel, in their Lightning which he built. He was a skilled hunter and often cooked any "extra" ducks in the blind. He was a pilot and enjoyed flying friends to the barrier islands to fish for specks and redfish. Following Hurricane Betsy, his neighbors and friends appreciated the ice flown to New Orleans in those weeks without power. Friends are invited to a reception on the twelfth floor of Lambeth House, 150 Broadway, Monday, November 8, 2010 from 3:00pm until 5:00pm. A Requiem Mass will be held later in the week with the family in Waveland, Mississippi. The Thompson family thanks their friend, Gloria Harris and the wonderful people at Lambeth House. In lieu of flowers donations are suggested to Lambeth House, 150 Broadway, New Orleans, LA 70118 to start-up the new Alzheimer unit or to the charity of your choice. Please view and sign the Family Guestbook, at www.lakelawnmetairie.com.