July 15, 1942 -
January 29, 2019

Charles Wayne Thompson died January 29, 2019. Born in Washington, D.C. on July 15, 1942, the oldest son of Glenna and Charles Thompson, Wayne grew up in Medford, Oregon. After graduating from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, he joined the Peace Corps and spent two years working in rural community development in Peru, where he met his wife, Rolly Shaner, also a Peace Corps volunteer. Wayne's service in the Peace Corps was a life changing experience for him.

When he returned from Peru he attended the University of Oregon and earned a masters degree in history. He taught junior high and high school social sciences for 31 years in Lowell and Eugene, Oregon. His love of history inspired many students. He had the gift of making learning fun.

Wayne and Rolly were married in 1966. In the 1970's they bought a small farm where they raised natural colored sheep, angora goats, and alpacas. Wayne became involved with the Black Sheep Gathering volunteering for over 30 years.

Community service continued to be important to Wayne. Wayne was active in the West Cascade Peace Corps Association. He gave freely of his time for various projects and fund raising activities.

Wayne had many interests. He was a sports enthusiast. He was an avid gardener; nothing gave him more pleasure than working in his garden.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Rolly, his brother, Bradley Thompson and wife LeeAnn Thompson, and nine nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Cascade Health Hospice for their care and support in his final days.

A celebration of life will take place July 13 at Wayne and Rolly's home. Memorial donations may be made to Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide, 1412 Pearl St., Eugene, OR 97401 and Clinica Kausay Wasi, www.kausaywasi.org.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Eugene Register-Guard on Feb. 10, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Charles Thompson

13 Entries

Liliana Darwin López

June 15, 2023

Wayne was my social studies teacher in high school in the early 1990s, and I think of what we learned that year often. He had a way of making history come alive, and a gift for showing us its relevance to our everyday lives. He spoke about subjects I never heard any other teacher speak of -- the Vietnam War, the human costs of Hiroshima, the AIDS epidemic. He had a person living with AIDS come to our class and tell his story, humanizing the epidemic in a way nothing else could. For extra credit, he let us analyze verses of "We Didn't Start the Fire," explaining how it told U.S. history, decade by decade. I felt and experienced more in that class that year than I remember feeling or experiencing in any other. I wrote him over 20 years later to tell him so, and he wrote back right away, newsy emails that I cherish to this day. He is one of the great teachers who made me want to be an educator. I was so sorry to learn today of his passing.

April 13, 2019

Rolly, my condolences to you on your loss and with fond memory of visiting your farm 20 years ago or so... your cousin Susan from Santa Monica

February 17, 2019

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Wayne, but grateful for his service to our nation with the Peace Corps in Peru.

Our Condolences,
The National Peace Corps Association

John Mosby

February 16, 2019

I had the good fortune of doing my student teaching at Roosevelt Jr High School in 1983. Wayne reluctantly agreed to be a cooperating teacher and mentor me. Man, was I lucky! He was an amazing mentor; inspirational, knowledgeable, supportive, witty, genuine, caring, sometimes curmudgeonly and sarcastic, but most importantly he was fair, made learning fun, and was well-loved and respected by his students. I went on to teach for 30-plus years and have always counted Wayne as one of the three most important people in my decision to pursue teaching as a career.

I remember that twinkle in his eye when he would cock his head and barely crack a smile.

Thank you Wayne.

My sincere condolences to you Rolly and the rest of the family,

John Klinghammer

February 14, 2019

I took at least two classes from Wayne at South Eugene HS in the late 80s, and I remember him very fondly, He had a great way of making history fun by sheer force of personality and seriousness. Tons of energy, and a real love for the subject. I still remember a mock United Nations summit that he put on in class...some friends and I were representing Libya, and we decided to have fun with it and show up10 minutes late blaring the Libyan national anthem on a boom box and waving the flag....Wayne merely turned to look us over and without missing a beat said, and I see the delegation from Libya has arrived. He was a great teacher and a wonderful person, and I am very sad to hear of his passing. Best wishes to his family.

February 13, 2019

One of the best teachers I ever had. He helped inspire me to teach middle school for a time. The effort he put into his lesson plans paid huge dividends for his many students.
-Tom Klonoski

Wayne surrounded by his class of outdoor ed studnents 1976

Perrin Kerns

February 12, 2019

Wayne walking with Pam Deutsch on Outdoor Ed, 1976

Perrin Kerns

February 12, 2019

Wayne Thompson Outdoor Ed 1976

Perrin Kerns

February 12, 2019

Wayne Thompson was my teacher at Roosevelt and one of my favorite teachers EVER! He had a way of never smiling and we would work to get him to crack a smile with us. He taught through active learning practices (like having his student doing simulations of setting up our own countries with our own constitutions, etc.) He also had us read books like "A Tale of Two Cities." These books challenged us and moved us. Wayne also took many of us on Outdoor Ed. experiences and taught us how to backpack and love the wild, and just be quiet and sit in nature.

Wayne was our hero and remains my personal teacher hero to this day. Roosevelt was a special place back then. It was a place that gave the young students a lot of responsibility and it taught us that education could be fun. Wayne was a big part of that vision -- of respecting junior high school students by providing them with an outstanding education.

Janet Beairsto Whitty

February 11, 2019

Wayne was my favorite teacher at Roosevelt, and I'm pretty sure that I took all of the classes that he offered. I can still picture him pacing in front of the chalkboard and challenging us to be critical thinkers. I chuckle remembering his smile and the twinkle in his eye - especially when he'd catch on to the mischievousness that we were trying to get away with. He was a good man.
My condolences to you Rolly.
Rest in peace C. Wayne Thompson.

Brady Tubb

February 11, 2019

Wayne was my friend, councilor and teacher. He helped me get through school and was there when I got into trouble, he was there for me a lot. I love this man! Thank you Mr. Thompson. Thank you Wayne.

February 11, 2019

i will miss your smile and so will many others.

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