Kenneth Joseph Thompson

Kenneth Joseph Thompson Ken Thompson died peacefully on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at an adult family home in Olympia, surrounded by his family. He fought the effects of Parkinson's disease for five years. Ken was born June 3, 1922 near Montesano, WA along the Chehalis River in the farmhouse his grandfather homesteaded in 1889. He graduated from Montesano High School in 1940. Two years later he answered his country's call to duty and joined the U.S. Navy during WW II. Ken was then sent to storekeeper school in Toledo, Ohio. At a USO function he met his future wife, Bette McCandless. A friendship formed and the two began to correspond as Ken was stationed in Trinidad and eventually on to the destroyer USS Duncan. Ken was at sea on the "Duncan" for eighteen months until the end of the World War Il, and then completed his service in 1946. Bette and Ken were married in Toledo, Ohio in June of 1947. They were married for almost fifty two years. Bette passed away in the spring of 1999. Ken took a position as a research analyst with the Washington State Patrol where he worked for thirty years. After retirement he began a new job with the Traffic Safety commission, where he worked part time for another twenty years. Ken and Bette were very early members of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. Ken served on the church council, was congregational president and deacon as well as being involved in many other church activities. Ken's life has been rich in community service. He was active as a Cub Scout leader. He served twelve years on the Tumwater Planning Commission. He was involved for thirty years with the Tumwater Kiwanis Club. Ken was also on the Tumwater School Board for twelve years. He helped oversee the planning and construction of the "new" Tumwater High School in 1960-61. Ken was also involved with the Duncaneers, a group of Navy veterans who served on one of the many USS Duncans. He planned and organized the Pacific Northwest reunion of the Duncaneers in 2004. One of his final projects was helping with the producing and publishing of the book, Rich Heritage- Tumwater Area Schools. Ken especially enjoyed his family, extended family and home on Barnes Lake. He kept a beautiful yard and productive vegetable garden. He also enjoyed traveling with the family. He traveled to Norway to see his mother's homestead and other sites near Sognefjord and Bergen. He also traveled to Hawaii, Disneyland, Las Vegas, and Sun River. Ken is survived by two sons, David (Linda) Thompson of Rochester, WA, and Kevin (Kathy) Thompson of Tumwater. He also has four grandchildren; Seth Thompson of Kirkland, Jin Thompson of Tacoma, and Natalie and Olivia Thompson of Tumwater; and three nieces, Joanne Gormel of Chadds Ford, PA, Barbara Huffman of Olympia and Deanna Novella of East Haven, CT. Also surviving, is a nephew, Chris Tasso of Bethany, CT. A memorial service is planned for Friday, December 20, 2013 at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1601 North Street SE, Olympia, WA at 1:00 PM. In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Tumwater Kiwanis Foundation, 3928 88th Ave. SW, Olympia, WA 98512 or to the Veterans Memorial Museum, 100 Veterans Way, Chehalis, WA 98532.