Donald (Don) Thompson
December 1, 1937 – August 23, 2024
Donald (Don) Thompson was born on December 1, 1937, just 15 minutes after his identical twin brother Richard (Dick). He was one of nine children born to the late Emory and Mildred Thompson of Bellingham. After graduating from Bellingham High School in 1956, Don joined the Navy, spending most of his service time in Guam. On a fateful day trip to Vancouver after he returned home to Bellingham, he stopped to ask a woman and her daughter for directions, never imagining that this simple act would change the course of his life forever. For it was in that moment that he met the woman's daughter, the love of his life, Patricia Brown of Vancouver, BC.
After they married, he accepted a job with Lawrence Manufacturing, and they moved to Seattle, where they raised their family. Don was a kind man with a big heart and goofy sense of humor. He was always willing to step in when asked to help with a project. He was an engineer at heart with a keen mind and imagination, receiving several patents for his inventions along the way. He used his endless curiosity about the world around him when creating, taking great satisfaction in the work and beauty of something that he imagined and then built with his own hands – whether it was a speedboat or a house. And it was always constructed to the highest of standards.
While living in Burien, Don earned his pilot’s license and flew a Cessna 210. He coached Bart’s soccer team for four years, then refereed several more years and played in the “Fossil League.”
After retiring, Don and Pat split their time between homes in Bellingham, Phoenix, and Hawaii, and were fortunate to spend many years traveling the world, something they loved to do together. Don was a Christian, who lived his faith every single day. He was a loving, supportive, and encouraging husband, father, brother, and friend.
Donald George Thompson died on Friday, August 23, just four days shy of his and Pat's 64th wedding anniversary. His wide, easy smile will be missed.
He is survived by his devoted wife Patricia, their three children Colleen Jones of Las Vegas, NV, Michelle Thompson of Sahuarita, AZ, and Bart Thompson (Kathryn) of Bellingham; as well as all eight of his siblings, Bill Thompson (Marsha) of Camano Island; Dick Thompson of Orcas Island; Linda Miller (Gale) of Newberg, OR; Rea Thompson (Judi) of Granbury, TX; Patricia Tuor of Bellevue; Autumn Cole of Bellingham; Mary Johnson of Chehalis; Scott Thompson (Donna) of Puyallup; Pat’s sister Shannon Poulsen (Jef) of White Rock, BC; grandsons Christopher and Justin Estacio, as well as many nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.
Services will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 with inurnment at 10 a.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery, 5977 Northwest Drive, Ferndale WA 98248 followed by a memorial service at 1 p.m. at Birch Bay Bible Community Church, 4460 Bay Road, Blaine WA 98230.
Memorials are suggested to The Lighthouse Mission, P.O. Box 548, Bellingham WA 98227.
