Tom L. Thompson will be remembered as a hard-working and successful businessman, a loving and generous father and grandfather, and a loyal and fun-loving friend to all who knew and loved him. Born September 21, 1927 in Muncie, Indiana to Davis Jeffries and Lillian Wright Thompson. Known always as simply T.L., most people never knew that his middle name was Lindy, in honor of Aviator Charles Lindbergh's historic trans-Atlantic flight four months earlier. He graduated from Burris Laboratory School in 1946, where he played Varsity basketball, and earned a degree in Business Administration from Ball State Teacher's College. Married Nola Marceil Peckinpaugh of Muncie, Indiana on February 14, 1950, and they had four sons: Conrad, Mark, Tommy, and Bill. His jobs as local and later Regional Manager with Household Finance Company, Aetna Finance Company, and General Finance Company took the family first to Kensington, Maryland, then to Bangor, Maine, Champaign, Illinois, Houston, Texas, and finally to Dallas, Texas, where they have lived since 1961. He founded his own company, T.L. Thompson & Associates, in 1976, and it was his drive, determination, and vision that transformed it from a small company of five employees to one of the leading subrogation firms in the nation. He was active in the Jaycees, the Chamber of Commerce, and the American Collectors Association, holding offices in each and earning numerous industry awards. He was also a generous supporter of the Special Olympics and an anonymous benefactor of many worthy causes. He loved music and electronics and was one of the first people in Dallas to own a hi-fi stereo, a color television, and an early prototype of the modern-day cellular phone, which weighed about eight pounds. He was an avid boater, a huge fan of the Indiana Hoosiers and the Dallas Mavericks, and loved to travel all over the world, with extended trips to China, Australia, and South Africa among his most memorable. Preceded in death by his parents, wife Martha Jo Blaylock, and by sister Barbara Smith of Washington DC and brother William Thompson of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Survived by his first wife Nola, children Conrad, Mark, Tommy, Bill, and Marilyn, son-in-law Arlan Converse, daughter-in-law Debbie Thompson, and grandchildren Stuart, Daniel, Tommy, Madison, Mason, Erik, and Brian. The family wishes to express our sincere appreciation to Caregivers Mary Robinson and Sharon Nichols, who provided outstanding around-the-clock comfort and support during his final years. Visitation will be held at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home on Friday, December 7, 2012 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at Sparkman/Hillcrest Northwest Highway Chapel on Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. with interment to follow.
Published in Dallas Morning News from December 6 to December 7, 2012