William Robert Thompson

William Robert Thompson, known to his family and friends as Bob, passed away in Goldendale, WA on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016 at the age of 80. Bob was born to John Thompson and Mildred Marguerite Baker on Jan. 16, 1936 in Moorcroft, WY. He was raised on a cattle ranch until the age of 11 when the family moved to northern Idaho in 1947 living in Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry where he attended school. In his youth he worked at a filling station downtown and at the Smith Family farm just west of Bonners. In 1957 he enlisted in the US Army serving in Germany and was honorably discharged in 1959. He married Darlene Dawn Jensen on January 3, 1960 in Bonners Ferry, ID. Bob worked for a short time at the Thompson Lumber Company and Kelson Lumber Company before moving his family to Hood River, OR. He eventually settled in Underwood, WA in 1968. He worked for Broughton Lumber Company from 1962 until the mill’s close in 1986. He started work there as a general laborer until he got a position on the flume crew, eventually becoming the flume boss. In 1975, he was promoted to planerman. He continued working in the lumber industry as a plainer-man in different companies until his retirement in 1996. He was a talented carpenter who remodeled and built-on to the family home in Underwood with the help of family and friends. He also had many varied interests at different times in his life which included: hunting, fishing, camping, and beekeeping. He was preceded in death by his parents, John & Mildred Thompson, and his sister, Betty Josephine Thompson. Bob is survived by his children, Jay Baker (Sherry), Athol, ID; Marilyn Lilly (Curt), White Salmon, WA; Roberta Wood (Scott) Underwood, WA; Robert L. Thompson (Joni), Goldendale, WA; Rachel L. Simpson, Kennewick, WA; brother, John W. Thompson, White Salmon, WA; ten grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service and Reception will be held on Monday, October 17 at 10:00 a.m. at Gardner Funeral Home in White Salmon, WA. He will be interred at the Chris-Zada Cemetery in Underwood, WA. Condolences may be sent to: The Thompson Family, 402 School House Road, Underwood, WA 98651, or e-mailed to: rwood@gorge.net.