Dr. Ray E. Thompson, Jr., age 93 of Galesburg died May 14, 2016 at his home.
He was born in Atlanta, rural Logan County, Illinois April 20, 1923 to Ray E. Thompson, Sr. and Ida Crihfield Thompson. He was married to Grace Nettum at Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin October 23, 1948. She preceded him in death on November 23, 2010. Surviving are two sons, Ray III (and Dr. Jeanie) of Godfrey, Illinois and Daniel of Galesburg. A son Peter died in infancy. Also surviving are grand children, Ray Thompson IV and Christina Grace Thompson and one brother, Dr. William (and Gerry) Thompson of Urbana, Illinois. Brothers Sam and Robert and sister Mary Mason preceded him in death.
Dr. Thompson was treasured not only by his family, but his widespread friends and his large number of patients.
He was born on a small farm without electricity or running water. At first he attended a one room country school. Then he continued junior high and high school in Atlanta, graduating in a class of 23. He remembers when his father bought their first tractor. It was used until after sunset that day when the manifold became red hot.
He attended the University of Illinois, Urbana on an academic scholarship. During World War II Dr. Thompson was assigned by the army as a medical student at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago. He was a participant in the Army Specialized Training program where he graduated in 1947.
He served as an Air Force medical officer and flight surgeon in Texas during the Korean conflict. He practiced briefly in Chicago before moving to Galesburg in 1953. He was the 4th member of the Galesburg Clinic, where he worked for 34 years, retiring in 1987.
Dr. Thompson was in some way an old fashioned doctor. In early years of dedicated practice his patient care included making house calls, which included Box Car people. Box Car people came from Mexico to work for the railroad and they were offered homes made of box cars.
On many occasions his reward was satisfaction in the gratitude of his followers.
