Obituary

ABERNATHY - Memorial services for Joe Thompson, 86, will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in First Baptist Church in Abernathy with the Rev. Mike Wilcox and the Rev. John Lowrie officiating. Burial will be in Abernathy Cemetery by Abell Funeral Home. Mr. Thompson died Monday, February 11, 2002, in Lubbock. He was born Dec. 23, 1915, in Leonard and moved to Abernathy in 1922 with his family. He founded Joe Thompson Implement in 1944 and co-founded Yellow House Machinery in Lubbock and Amarillo and Southwest Textiles in Abernathy. He was a charter member of Abernathy Lions Club, joining in 1945, was a member of the Masonic Lodge and had served as a deacon in the Abernathy First Baptist Church since 1946. He also served as President of the Abernathy Chamber of Commerce from 1966 until 1967, was an honorary member of the Abernathy Young Farmers and served on the Finance Board of Hardin Simmons University and the Southern Baptist Convention. The Abernathy Ex-Student Association honored Mr. Thompson as a distinguished alumni, and in 1974 he was honored as Outstanding Citizen by the Abernathy Chamber of Commerce. He was an avid sports fan and was an honorary member of the Abernathy Baseball Association. He supported all Abernathy and Texas Tech University sports. He married Ruby Mauldin on Dec. 22, 1934, in Abernathy. Survivors include his wife; a son and daughter-in-law, Harold and Cheryl Thompson of Lubbock; two daughters and sons-in-law, Jane and Dick Phillips of Lubbock and Pat and Artel Chapman of Clovis, N.M.; three brothers, Pete Thompson of Abernathy, Fred Thompson of Olton and L. O'Brien Thompson of Amarillo; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6-7:30 p.m. today and at the church Fellowship Hall following the memorial services. Memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church Building Fund, 411 - 7th St., Abernathy, TX 79311, or to the Texas Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 5665, Lubbock, TX 79408, or to a favorite charity.
Plainview Daily Herald - Feb. 12, 2002