James Chilton Thompson

THOMPSON, James Chilton James Chilton Thompson, age 88, of Austin, passed away July 16, 2018 with family and friends at his side. Jim was a beloved physicist, researcher, educator, husband, father, mentor, and friend. He enriched the lives of all who met him. Jim was born June 14, 1930, in Fort Worth, the only child of Fredrick Moon Thompson and Anna Chilton Thompson. He graduated from Texas Christian University in 1952 with a BA in Physics. He continued his Physics studies at Rice University, receiving an MA in 1954 and a PhD in 1956. He met his first wife, Carol May O'Connor Thompson, at Rice, and they married in 1955. They moved to Austin in 1956, for Jim to join the faculty of the Physics Department at the University of Texas. Jim and Carol May made their lives and careers and together in Austin for thirty-nine blissful years, until Carol May's untimely passing in 1995. They raised three sons, Kelvin, Denis, and Alan. Jim led the family in many adventures of traveling, sailing, canoeing, and enjoying the culture of a growing city. Jim married the second love of his life, Kathleen Izod Wilson in 2000. Together they traveled the world, pursuing their mutual love of art and fine dining. They were active supporters of the Democratic party, and campaigned for their candidates both locally and nationally. At home in Austin, they enjoyed sharing time with a wide network of friends and family. Jim first discovered his love for physics at Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, inspired by a dedicated science teacher. He pursued this passion until his retirement in 1995. During his long career studying condensed matter physics he authored the book Electrons in Liquid Ammonia, and published over 200 refereed articles and book chapters. He supervised over 40 Ph.D. dissertations, and welcomed countless undergraduates into his lab, office, and home. He was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society. After his retirement, Jim shifted his research efforts toward genealogy. He traced many branches of his, Carol May's, and Kathleen's family trees, following some leads as far as England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Germany, and New Zealand. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Anna, and his first love, Carol May. Jim is survived by his wife, Kathleen Wilson, and by his sons and their families: Kelvin and Susan Thompson, and daughters Charlotte and Molly; Denis Thompson and Katy Brown and daughter Lark; and Alan Thompson and Sarah Wayland, and sons Justin and Oliver. Jim also dearly loved Kathleen's children and their families: Margaret and Darryl Roberts, and their children Alec and Katie; Richard Jenkins and Susan Hays, and their son Max; and Robert Jenkins and Claire Mitchell, and their son Colin. A memorial reception will be held at 2:00 p.m. July 28, at Green Pastures (Marion Hall), 811 West Live Oak St, Austin. Memorial contributions can be made to the James C. Thompson Endowed Fellowship in Physics: cns.utexas.edu/jim-thompson-fellowship.