William F. Thompson, 51, was born June 30, 1953 in Ketchikan, Alaska and passed away at home on Feb. 3, 2005 after a courageous battle against cancer.

Bill graduated from Mountlake Terrace high school in 1971. Four months before graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1975, Bill met Carol Fisher and two months after graduation they were married. Bill was sent to Webb AFB, Texas for pilot training. From there, he flew A-7s at England AFB in Louisiana. On Oct. 24th, 1977 his son Lance was born at St. Francis Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria. Two years later when Bill was flying O-2s at Wheeler AFB in Hawaii, his daughter Lindsay was born on Dec. 18th at Tripler Medical Center.

Bill's next assignment was at Nellis AFB, Nev. flying the plane of his dreams...the beautiful F-16. From Nellis he was stationed at Osan, Korea (OV-10), and then at Misawa back in the F-16 cockpit; up north to Elmendorf, AFB Alaska where he flew a desk for four years and sharpened his computer skills. From Alaska Bill was stationed at Reese AFB, Texas as a T-38 instructor Pilot until he was sent to his last assignment at Randolph AFB, Texas where he continued to train students in the T-38.

After Bill was diagnosed with cancer in January of 2001, he switched over from a life of flying to a life of computers. In between surgeries Bill mastered the Microsoft Certification Course and became invaluable as a computer software engineer. He was as patient teaching computer programming as he was as an instructor pilot. Bill refused to let his illness hold him back from achieving his goals. He remained on active duty until his retirement on Sept. 8, 2004. He was an inspiration to all who knew him and continues to leave his mark upon our lives.

A funeral Mass was held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Selma, Texas. Bill's ashes were laid to rest at the Air Force Academy on June 9th, 2005.

Bill leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 29 years, Carol; their son Lance and wife, Chaiki; their daughter Lindsay, husband Justin and granddaughter Annora; his mother, Dorie; sister Diane, brother Dan along with brothers-in-law Gary, Ernie, Larry, Gale; sisters-in-law Nancy, Brenda, Connie, Linda and Cheryl; and their families.

Bill was a loving husband and father, beloved son, brother and friend. We will cherish him by living our lives to the fullest, as he did.

By His Family, February 2005

William F. Thompson, 51, was born June 30, 1953 in Ketchikan, Alaska and passed away at home on Feb. 3, 2005 after a courageous battle against cancer.

Bill graduated from Mountlake Terrace high school in 1971. Four months before graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1975, Bill met Carol Fisher and two months after graduation they were married. Bill was sent to Webb AFB, Texas for pilot training. From there, he flew A-7s at England AFB in Louisiana. On Oct. 24th, 1977 his son Lance was born at St. Francis Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria. Two years later when Bill was flying O-2s at Wheeler AFB in Hawaii, his daughter Lindsay was born on Dec. 18th at Tripler Medical Center.

Bill's next assignment was at Nellis AFB, Nev. flying the plane of his dreams...the beautiful F-16. From Nellis he was stationed at Osan, Korea (OV-10), and then at Misawa back in the F-16 cockpit; up north to Elmendorf, AFB Alaska where he flew a desk for four years and sharpened his computer skills. From Alaska Bill was stationed at Reese AFB, Texas as a T-38 instructor Pilot until he was sent to his last assignment at Randolph AFB, Texas where he continued to train students in the T-38.

After Bill was diagnosed with cancer in January of 2001, he switched over from a life of flying to a life of computers. In between surgeries Bill mastered the Microsoft Certification Course and became invaluable as a computer software engineer. He was as patient teaching computer programming as he was as an instructor pilot. Bill refused to let his illness hold him back from achieving his goals. He remained on active duty until his retirement on Sept. 8, 2004. He was an inspiration to all who knew him and continues to leave his mark upon our lives.

A funeral Mass was held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Selma, Texas. Bill's ashes were laid to rest at the Air Force Academy on June 9th, 2005.

Bill leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 29 years, Carol; their son Lance and wife, Chaiki; their daughter Lindsay, husband Justin and granddaughter Annora; his mother, Dorie; sister Diane, brother Dan along with brothers-in-law Gary, Ernie, Larry, Gale; sisters-in-law Nancy, Brenda, Connie, Linda and Cheryl; and their families.

Bill was a loving husband and father, beloved son, brother and friend. We will cherish him by living our lives to the fullest, as he did.

By His Family, February 2005