William P. (Bill) Thompson

William P. (Bill) Thompson age 83, died at his home Monday, October 4. Bill was born October 17, 1926 at Paris Texas to James Arlie and Bennie Thompson. Young Bill and his brother Orvie helped their dad picking cotton and sold okra door to door to supplement the family income and earn enough to buy a bicycle. In 1936 the family of two parents and 5 children traveled north in a Chevrolet pickup truck to find a better life in Oregon. James Arlie, or Pop as he was known, financed the trip day by day taking work where he could find it and challenging locals to an occasional horse race. On the way they took a side trip to the Yakima area and spent their first nights in the valley camping along the Yakima River. Pop found work in the fields, orchards and hop yards in places around the valley such as Brownstown, Parker and Moxee. Often the family worked long hours together picking hops or apples. The family eventually bought a home on Tenth Street in Yakima and Bill and his siblings attended Yakima High School where A. C. Davis was the principal.

During high school, Bill had a paper route and also worked for Ralph Lathrop a grower west of Yakima. He was encouraged by the local draft board to complete high school in 3 years so he could report to camp Pendleton for the US Army. Bill was trained in heavy artillery but wound up in the Signal Corps, stationed at Trinidad just as World War II ended.

After an honorable discharge from the Army, Bill returned to Yakima. In 1947 he married Helen Ann Johnson, daughter of Jerome Benjamin (J. Ben) and Helen (Whiting) Johnson of Selah. The couple attended Washington State College in Pullman and later Bill transferred to the University of Washington in Seattle. In 1951 their son, Brian was born in Seattle while Bill was finishing his degree in Business Administration. After graduation, Bill moved his family back to Selah where he made a start as an orchardist on Guinan Lane. As the orchard grew and production increased Bill was nominated to serve on the Washington State Apple Commission, ultimately serving a term as its president. In 1967 he was elected to the board of directors of Snokist fruit cooperative, serving with fellow growers Jack Babcock, Roy Salverda, Dick Ormiston and other notable growers; he served as Snokist board chairman from 1982 thru 1984. Bill was an active supporter and member of Yakima Downtown Rotary since 1980 and a faithful member of Wesley United Methodist Church.

In 1993 Bill married his second wife, Irene Carroll of Selah. The couple enjoyed entertaining guests, children, grandchildren and a great-granddaughter at their Selah Heights residence; he loved nothing better than to have the kids over for burgers and a swim. Bill kept a boat at La Conner Marina for years and enjoyed times spent cruising the San Juan Islands with friends and family. An avid traveler, Bill relished vacations spent in warm, tropical locales. Bill also enjoyed reading and the study of history and will be especially remembered for his many, often hilarious, family stories.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents James Arlie Thompson and Bennie Belle (Posey) Thompson, his brothers Jerry Thompson and Orva C. Thompson, his sister Marian (Thompson) McFarland and his nephews Michael Thompson and Andrew Thompson.

He is survived by a large and loving family: his wife Irene Thompson and daughters Doris Onnis and son-in-law Roberto, Linda Orozco and son-in-law Manuel, and Wanda Bratt and son-in-law Mike as well as grandchildren Nicola, Michella, Stefan, and Natalia Onnis; Lauren and Lacey Chaplin; Jaren and Patrick Bratt; and a great-granddaughter, Charlotte Nansel. Bill is also survived by his son Brian Thompson and daughter-in-law Jennifer; granddaughters Linda, Melissa and Jessica Gallagher; Brenda Messimer; grandsons Robert, Benjamin and Jerome Thompson and great-grandson, Jerome Thompson. He is survived by his first wife, Helen Ann Thompson and is also survived by his sister Louise Ackley, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be held from 4 until 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Keith & Keith Ninth Avenue Chapel. A burial service will be held on Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 1:00pm at Terrace Heights Memorial Park, followed by a celebration of life memorial at 3:00pm at Wesley United Methodist Church, 14 N 48th Ave, Yakima, WA. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the George Washington Foundation, The Rotary Scholarship Fund or Wesley United Methodist Church Endowment Fund in care of Keith & Keith Funeral Home. To celebrate the life of Bill Thompson visit www.keithandkeith.com