Rick Thompson

Rick L. Thompson of Berea, KY, passed away on Friday, February 27, 2026, surrounded by family and friends. Rick was born in Pennington Gap, VA, on October 18, 1952. He was a loving father, husband, brother, teacher, coach, and friend to many. Rick enjoyed: drinking his morning (and afternoon) coffee; soaking up the sunshine on a beach or cruise ship; hosting family gatherings at his home; and watching basketball, baseball, and football. He was a member of Gethsemane Baptist Church, where he also served as a deacon for many years. Rick attended Berea College, where he met and married his wife, Nora. They both graduated from Berea in 1975. He spent most of his career teaching industrial arts at Scott County Middle School in Georgetown, KY. Rick was also a girls' basketball coach, a role he took pride in, mentoring and making a lasting impact on countless players' lives. He retired in 2012 and took on several "retirement gigs," including his favorite: working in the Winner's Circle at Keeneland. After suffering a severe stroke in 2017, Rick fought fearlessly and relentlessly to regain his strength and continued to be the family man he had aimed to be his entire life. In that, he succeeded.

Rick is survived by his sons, Jeremy and Zack Thompson, his daughter-in-law, Jennifer Thompson, and Zack's partner, Nigel Lepianka. He is also survived by his brothers, Ron and his wife, Renee Parsons, and Jeff and his wife, Alisa Parsons. Other surviving family members include: his sisters-in-law, Anita Lynn Kelley and Malta Flannery; his nephews, John and Jacob Parsons, Roger "Kip" Kelley II, and Michael Flannery. His nieces include Christine Burns, Kylie Parsons, Beth Nowlin, and Laura Coffey. Rick was preceded in death by his best friend and wife of 38 years, Nora A. Thompson; his mother, Ruth, and stepfather, Rex Parsons; his grandfather, George Creed Thompson; his uncles Leonard, James, Clinton, G.C., and Douglas Thompson; his aunt, Betty Belden; his father-in-law, Lloyd Anglin; his mother-in-law, Johnnie Anglin; his brother-in-law, Abraham Anglin; his brother-in-law, Roger Kelley; and his niece, Lavina Kelley. Rick was also survived by his many students, parents, caregivers, and friends. Rick's pallbearers include Raymond Flannery, Michael Flannery, Trizdon Reynolds, Justin Rudolph, Drew McCool-Solis, Brynn Lovern, John Lovern, and Daniel Taylor Wells. Honorary pallbearers include Crystal Wylie, Mike Fisher, Phil Nowlin, Ryan Keller, Roger "Kip" Kelley II, Ricky Abney, and Clyde Miller. Lakes Funeral Home will conduct funeral services with Rev. Ed Cortez officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday, March 3 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Lakes Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, with interment following in Berea Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that people consider donating to the University of Kentucky Aphasia Lab (https://share.google/zTtEZhgDjpEujESil), where Rick received ongoing speech therapy, or donating backpacks and school supplies to local public schools.