Richard Thompson passed away peacefully on Thursday morning May 14, 2020 at St. Peter’s Hospital in Olympia, Washington after a short illness.
Richard was born in Portland, Oregon on October 23, 1936 to Dwight (Dick) and Anne Thompson. He was raised in Aberdeen, Washington and graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic School and went on to graduate from Aberdeen High School in 1954. After graduation, he met and married Merold Schmidtke of Hoquiam, and the two were married for 61 years.
Richard served in the U.S. Army and upon being discharged Richard returned and became an employee of Lamb Grays Harbor where he would work in various positions and titles for over three decades until his retirement.
Richard was an active member of the Hoquiam Elks Club and Hoquiam Lions Club. Richard coached Little League baseball for the Hoquiam Little League Association, and he spent many years refereeing high school basketball throughout the Grays Harbor area and eventually served as secretary of the Grays Harbor Officials Association.
Richard’s greatest love was playing and watching sports. He was an avid golfer for many years and played slow pitch in the summers. Being a lifelong “Harborite”, Richard enjoyed attending and supporting Hoquiam athletics and Choker basketball and he never missed a sporting event of his Grizzly daughters. Later Merold and he would travel and watch their grandchildren in many of their sports and extra curricular activities. Richard was an avid UW Husky fan and lived for tailgating and games in the fall with his family and friends.
Above all, Richard was a family man. Be it a family trip to a destination, holiday gatherings, watching his grandchildren perform, or especially time spent at the family property at Bainbridge Island in the summer, family time was the best time. Richard is preceded in death by his parents Dwight (Dick) Thompson and Anne (Schmidt) Thompson and is survived by his wife, Merold Thompson, daughters, Julie Anneberg (Jim) and Joelle Ediger (Brent), grandchildren Jayme and Jill Anneberg, and Zachary and Amelia Ediger, a brother Jerry Thompson (Wendy), a niece Jodi Thompson Rabat (Jorge)as well as beloved family members and friends.
There will be a private family burial and a celebration of life will be forthcoming.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made in the name of Richard Thompson to the YMCA of Grays Harbor. Donations can be made online or by mail at, The YMCA of Grays Harbor 2500 Simpson Ave., Hoquiam, WA 98550.
