Willis H. "Weegie" Thompson Sr.

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Willis "Weegie" Hope Thompson, Sr. of Midlothian, VA announces that he passed away on October 29, 2024. He was the son of James Hope Thompson and Ada Lou Simmons Thompson. He leaves to cherish his memories, his wife of 64 years, Katie Gwendolyn Owen Thompson; his sons, Weegie, Jr. (Celina), Jim (Sherri), Ben (Ashley), and Marvin; his grandchildren, Amanda Sevinksy (Matt), Will (Katie), Joey (Sarah), Michael (Maggie), Aubrey, Ali Kate Hall (Adam), Hope Lemos (Matheus), Benny (CeCe), Charlie (Ari), Marvin Jr., and Angie Thompson. He is also survived by step-grandchildren, Casey Maxwell (Adam), Charlotte McAfee (Zach), and Cole McDeshen; eleven great-grandchildren, two step-great-grandchildren; his sisters-in-law Mary Louise, Faye, and Betty Thompson and Betty Owen Ray; and many loving nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brothers, James, Byrd, Franklin, Marvin and sister-in-law Barbara Thompson. Weegie was born on September 27, 1934, in Dothan, AL, the fourth of five sons. The family moved to Gonzalez, FL in 1936 and he grew up attending Gonzalez Methodist Church, where he met Katie Owen in the cradle roll. He attended James M. Tate School for the first through twelfth grades, where he excelled in sports. Earning a basketball scholarship, he attended Florida State, later transferring to Chipola Junior College, where the team set national records scoring an average of 103 points per game. Upon graduation, he went on to Western Kentucky University, became a “Hilltopper” and played for the legendary Ed Diddle. After graduation, Weegie served two years in the U.S. Army. In 1959, Weegie returned home to Pensacola, FL where he coached basketball and taught in Escambia County high schools for ten years. In 1963, he was awarded basketball coach of the year in Northwest Florida by the Pensacola News Journal. In 1960, Weegie and Katie Owen married in Gonzalez Methodist Church where they had grown up attending together. They were blessed with four sons. In 1969, Weegie left his teaching job and went to work for American Family Life (AFLAC) becoming one of AFLAC’s pioneers. In 1976, having built the leading region in the company, he was offered the job of state coordinator of Virginia. In July of that year, the family moved to Midlothian VA. After early retirement, he devoted more time to family and enjoyed playing golf, making five holes in one! He looked forward to his Sunday morning attendance at Bon Air United Methodist Church where he was a member for over forty years. Weegie was a kind and generous man and a great motivator. He loved all sports and classic country music. But most of all, he and Katie loved the years spent with their wonderful, growing family. His family will receive friends from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm on Monday, November 4, 2024, at Bon Air United Methodist Church – 1645 Buford Rd Richmond, VA 23235 – where a memorial service will begin at 1:00 pm followed by a reception. The family will hold a private burial on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bon Air United Methodist Church or The Salvation Army.