Leslie M. Thompson

1936 - 2024

Leslie M. Thompson, age 87, of Denton, Texas, passed away on March 15, 2024.

Born to James Roy and Irene Thompson on May 19, 1936, in Trinidad, Colorado, he spent his early years in Colorado and California before moving with his parents to Plainview, Texas in 1942. He graduated from Plainview High School in 1955 and in 1959 received his B.A. degree from Wayland Baptist University. After two years in the army, he attended Texas Tech University from which he received his M.A. in 1963 and Ph.D. in literature in 1965. After holding teaching positions at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and Stephen F. Austin State University, he served five years as Graduate Dean at Georgia Southern University. The remaining years of his professional career were spent as graduate Dean and Vice President for Research at Texas Woman's University. He published extensively on such topics as literature, higher education, and grief and bereavement.

Les was always interested in antiques and collectibles and inspired by items found at garage sales and flea markets. He began selling his finds in the 1980's in the Downtown Mini Mall and the Downtown Mini Mall II. His booths were well known and were a fixture on the Denton Square. As a former professor of literature, Les was a master of the spoken word, and enjoyed witty banter, creating puns, and cracking "dad jokes." To his final days, Leslie never lost his sense of humor, wisecracking with friends, family, and caregivers, always leaving people around him with a smile on their face.

Leslie is survived by his wife Sue, their beloved pet dog Willie, their sons Stephen and Michael, and their grandchildren Trey, Ryleigh, Matthew, Andrew, and Meaghan. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Parkinson's Foundation, an organization promoting research and supporting those with Parkinson's disease.