Obituary

Gayle O. Thompson, 79, of Plainview passed away on Friday, Aug. 31, 2012, in Plainview. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012, at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. David Hawkins and the Rev. Don Shepherd officiating. Arrangements are under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Plainview. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5-6 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Mr. Thompson was born in Blue Grove, Texas, on Sept. 19, 1932, to H.O. (Toad) and Ruth (Hodge) Thompson. On Jan. 1, 1940, the family moved to Plainview and quickly became an active part of the Bellview Community. Those formative years remained some of Gayle's most cherished memories. He began school in the one-room schoolhouse which also served as the gathering place for all community activities, including church on Sundays with Baptist and Methodist ministers alternating each week. It was there that he developed a value system from the example of his parents, teachers, friends and neighbors which instilled in him a love of God, family and country. When the school was consolidated into the Plain?view system, the schoolhouse was torn down, but the bonds of those friendships remained strong throughout his life. He attended schools in Plainview and graduated from Plainview High School in 1951. He graduated from Texas A&M in 1955 with a degree in agricultural administration and remained a proud Aggie for the rest of his life. He married Gay Ashby on July 8, 1955, in Plainview. He served briefly in the U.S. Air Force and returned to Plainview to take over the family farming operation. He never lost his deep love of the land he farmed and was sincerely appreciative of the many friends he enjoyed in more than 50 years of doing business in this area. He was an ordained elder of the Presbyterian Church, a charter member of Grace Presbyterian Church and an active member of First Presbyterian Church. Gayle was widely known and respected for his love of flying. He was honored with the Wright Brothers "Master Pilot" Award in 2007 in recognition of more than 50 years as a pilot with an unblemished record. There have only been approximately 1,500 pilots nationwide to receive this award for excellence. Gayle has been known throughout his life as a man of strong faith, unswerving principle and a valued friend, but his greatest joy was in his family. He is survived by his wife Gay Thompson of Plainview; his children Stephen Thompson of Texarkana, Texas, Kevin Thompson and wife Becky of Texarkana, Texas, and Melinda Hampton and husband Keith of Sugarland, Texas; and one sister, Jeanelle Street and husband Ben of Wimberley, Texas He will forever be remembered as "YaYo," beloved grandfather to six grandchildren, D. Scott Hampton, Savannah Thompson Wensists, Erinn A. Hampton, Reagon O. Thompson, Katherine "Katie" Thompson and Kevin O. Thompson; and one grea-grandson, Hodge A. Thompson. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, C. Patrick Thompson; and a daughter-in-law, Denise Drury Thompson. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church Scholarship of Grace, 2101 Utica St., Plainview, TX 79072 or a charity of your choice . Online condolences can be made atwww.kornerstonefunerals.com.