Brad Thompson

(August 2, 1923 – January 23, 2016)

Service Information
Time, Day, Date: 10 a.m., Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Place: First United Methodist Church
Officiating: Rev. Howard Martin
Disposition: Erath Gardens of Memory Cemetery

Services for Brad Thompson, 92, who died Saturday, January 23, 2015, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 27, 2016, at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Howard Martin officiating. Burial will follow at the Erath Gardens of Memory Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 26, 2016, at Lacy Funeral Home.

Brad was born in Bunyan, Texas, on August 2, 1923, to Wiley Bradford Thompson and Opal (Templeton) Thompson. He married Betty Watson on January 23, 1943, in Dublin, Texas. She preceded him in death on July 20, 2007. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and served on numerous boards and committees through the years. Brad founded and operated Brad Thompson Insurance Agency, was an organizer of Stephenville Savings & Loan Association, owned and operated Thompson Mini-Storage and the Thompson Art Gallery from 1971-2006, and raised cattle on the farm where he was born in the Bunyan Community of Erath County.

Brad served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Force and was stationed in England, France, and Germany. He was a life member of the 8th Air Force Historical Society and was a Colonel in the Commemorative Air Force, American Airpower Heritage Group. In 1964, he was commissioned an Honorary Admiral in the Texas Navy by Governor Preston Smith. Brad was a Life Member of the Turnbow-Higgs American Legion Post 240 and served as Post Commander, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9181 of Stephenville & Post 7835 of Granbury, and the Stephenville Masonic Lodge #267. Brad served as past President and current member of the Stephenville Lions Club and was presented a Life Membership in the Texas Lions Camp at Kerrville. He was also awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship, the highest honor awarded in Lionism and was the first to be presented by the Stephenville Lions Club in its history of over seven decades. He served on the SISD School Board, the Stephenville Chamber of Commerce, the Stephenville Industrial Foundation, Inc., the Terrell Foundation, and served on the President’s Commission of Tarleton State University and was inducted into the John Tarleton Society in 2006.

Survivors include his sons, Tim Thompson and wife, Rita, of Lubbock, Tab Thompson and wife, Debbie, of Stephenville; six grandchildren, Tara Mayfield and husband, Jimmy, of Tyler, Blake Thompson and wife, Paige, of Stephenville, Daniel Thompson and wife, Carolyn, of Denver, CO, Kayla Cermak and husband, Matt, of Bedford, Patrick Thompson and wife, Megan, of Sugarland, and Reagan Thompson and wife, Lindsey, of Conroe; and six great-grandchildren, Kirk McClard of Tyler, Hayden Herring of Tyler, Ava Thompson of Stephenville, Brooks Thompson of Stephenville, Adaleigh Thompson of Conroe, and Jackson Thompson of Sugarland.

Memorials may be made to American Legion Post 240, 801 E. Washington, Stephenville, TX 76401, or the charity of your choice.