William Edward "Bill" Thompson

William Edward "Bill" Thompson, in his own words. I was born on October 20,1946 in Oklahoma City to Charles E. and Justine Bolton Thompson, and I died on January 13, 2026 in Dallas, Texas at age 79. I grew up in Ada, Oklahoma, and lived there until I moved to Dallas in 2010.

I attended Ada schools, Tulane University in New Orleans (during which time I had a great time playing piano on Bourbon Street at the Red Garter Saloon), and I graduated from University of Tulsa with a degree in journalism. I worked on the oil desk for the Tulsa Daily World, and after graduation I joined my father in the insurance and real estate business, owning Thompson Agency in Ada OK and forming a multi-state insurance general agency, Landmark Management Corporation in Oklahoma City.

For many years Charlie Caldwell was my partner in Landmark. We traveled to New York and London frequently, and we were regulars in several memorable saloons and restaurants in Oklahoma City. Back in the day of the "3 martini lunch", The Brigadoon became a go-to spot for us, and often you could find us holding court at that restaurant in the tunnel (the Conncourse) beneath the Fidelity Bank building in downtown OKC. There were many, many adventures, lots of which will deservedly go to the grave with us! Suffice it to say that the seventies and eighties were fun times.

In 1992, I joined EDGE Tech Corporation, a company started by my son Jeff, and traveled worldwide helping build the company's computer peripherals business. I retired from EDGE in 2012 and began a career writing novels-archaeological thrillers and ghost stories. At the time of my death, I had 25 novels in print. (All are still available on Amazon-go buy some!)

I met my sweetheart Marilyn Manton at Ada's Oak Hills Golf and Country Club when I was 13; we dated throughout high school and married on March 23, 1968, in Tulsa. We raised two sons, Jeff and Ryan, both of whom became entrepreneurs as their father and mother were.

Marilyn died in 2010, a year after being diagnosed with a rare neurological disease. We had been married forty-two years. After her passing, I transitioned to our second home in Dallas to be closer to my children and newborn grandson.

In 2011, I met Marjorie Walker McGrew on eHarmony and started Act Two of my life. (Don't knock eHarmony; it works for some people!) We married and embarked on a new journey traveling around the world and enjoying family and friends. Along with Margie came a plethora of children and grandchildren, to whom I am proud to be called their Abuelo.

I had a great run, all in all. My life was interesting and varied, and (with few exceptions) 1enjoyed tackling the new things that came my way. I was an insurance and real estate agent, a member of Lloyds of London, a stockbroker, mayor of Ada, president of the Chamber of Commerce and jobs foundation, head of the Oklahoma State Corrections Board for many years, a corporate entrepreneur, church organist, choir member and president of the Kiwanis Club and the animal shelter in Ada. I was fluent in Russian, took several trips on the Concorde, and Marilyn and I were presented to Queen Elizabeth Il and Prince Philip at a gala event in London. We were active in Republican politics and met presidents Reagan, Bush I, Bush II and even President Clinton (who was definitely not a Republican).

In later years, a five-o-clock martini was essential, and I could find a bar even when trekking in the jungles of Central America. (Finding a decent vodka or gin and a martini shaker wasn't always as easy, but I managed!)

Preceding me in death are my parents, my first wife Marilyn, a brother, Thomas DeWitt and my stepson Cory Stewart. Surviving is my wife Margie, my sons Jeff (Michelle) of Dallas and Ryan (Lori) of Siesta Key, Florida, and a niece, DeAn Lomax of Guthrie, OK. Stepchildren are Angela Hudson (Clay) of Tuscaloosa AL; Emily Clark (John-Isaac) of Southlake, TX; and Michael Stewart (Brittany) of Midlothian, TX. Also survived by my one natural grandchild, Jack Thompson, and eight of Margie's-Brooklyn, Bear, Banks and Beckham Hudson and Nixon, Tripp, Stella and Amelia Stewart. I'm also survived by my beloved golden retriever Sassy and my goldendoodle Lulu, the last in a long line of beagles and goldens that made my life much richer and more fulfilling.

Please consider donating to PAWS (Pontotoc Animal Welfare Society),1200 Sandy Creek Road, Ada OK 74820 or to the animal rescue organization of your choice.

Here's my parting thought: enjoy life-every minute counts and even with the curve balls, it's an interesting, informative and unique journey. Cheers!