Harold "Keith" Thompson

PEORIA - Harold "Keith" Thompson, 81, of College Station, Texas, formerly of Peoria, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, at the in-patient unit of Hospice Brazos Valley.

Visitation will be Sunday, Feb. 23, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Hillier Funeral Home in Bryan, Texas. The memorial service will be held Monday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m. at First Christian Church in Bryan, Texas, 900 S. Ennis, with the Rev. Jesse Myers officiating. Interment will follow at a later date at Rockland Cemetery in Houston County, Texas, where seven generations of Keith's family are buried.

Keith was born was born Feb. 6, 1933, to Chester and Glenn Ellyn (Beeson) Thompson in the Lone Pine community near Lovelady, Texas. He moved with his family to Houston in 1942 and attended San Jacinto High School there, graduating in 1950. After one year at Wharton Junior College, he entered Texas A&M University in 1951 and graduated in 1955 with a degree in geology.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1955 and spent time in California, Virginia and Greenland.

In 1957, he went to work for Core Labs, where he was transferred to Tyler, Texas. While there in 1957, he met and married his first wife, Patricia Ann Patton Thompson. They were blessed with three children, Diana Thompson Teoli, Lee Edward Thompson and Clay Evan Thompson.

Keith and Pat eventually moved to Houston, where Keith ran a cab company with his mother and stepfather. He entered the field of industrial hygiene with the City of Houston in the early 1960s, and in 1966 he accepted employment with John Deere in Moline, Ill., in the same field.

The family moved to Schenectady, N.Y., in 1972 when Keith began his employment with GE Corporation. The family moved to Peoria, Ill., in 1980 when Keith went to work for Caterpillar Inc., where he retired in 1995 as manager of industrial hygiene for the entire corporation.

After retirement, Keith and Pat moved to Lufkin, Texas, for him to indulge his love of golf and Pat her love of painting.

Keith was a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Sons of the Republic of Texas, a Mason, a Shriner and an active member of First Christian Church in Bryan/College Station.

His great-great-great-grandfather, Jesse G. Thompson, fought with Sam Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Keith loved golf, motorcycles and history, especially Civil War history.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Pat in 2006; and two granddaughters, Claire Ellyn Thompson in 2012 and Bethany Marie Teoli in 1985.

Keith is survived by his wife, Ann Pittman-Thompson of College Station; his daughter and son-in-law, Diana and Bill Teoli of Riehen, Switzerland; his son, Lee E. Thompson of Galesburg, Ill.; and his son, Clay E. Thompson of Nashville, Tenn. Keith is also survived by half brother Bob Thompson and his wife, Teresa, of Springtown, Texas; and stepbrother, James Thompson and his wife, Judy of Blum, Texas. Also surviving are two stepsons and their wives, Jeff and Deborah Pittman of Brenham and Bryan and Debra Pittman of Burleson; six grandchildren, two stepgranddaughters and two great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Christian Church in Bryan and Hospice Brazos Valley.

The family would like to thank Comfort Keepers - especially his angels, Desiray Washington and Ruth Paul. We also express our profound appreciation to all of the nurses and aides with Hospice Brazos Valley, especially the in-patient unit personnel who are truly angels of mercy.

Please share memories and tributes to Harold at www.hillierfuneralhome.com.