Mr. Thompson

Malcolm Edward Thompson Jr., 85, died on Feb. 12 at Hill Country Rehabilitation & Nursing in Copperas Cove.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. March 20 at Sneed Funeral Chapel in Lampasas, with burial to follow at Kempner Cemetery for family members.

Malcolm was born on Nov. 24, 1935 in Flint, Michigan to Malcolm Edward Thompson Sr. and Margaret Helen Kleinebreil Thompson. He grew up in Mt. Morris, Michigan, where at the age of 17 he joined the United States Marine Corps.

He served as a Marine for 16 years and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He served the last four years of his military career in the United States Army, retiring at Fort Hood.

He moved his family to Lampasas County and began his next 20 years working for civil service at Fort Hood.

In addition to serving his country for 40 years, Malcom gave of his time to his community. He served as a Boy Scout leader for Troop 90 in Kempner and was a supporter of the local Girl Scout Troop.

He also was a member of the Kempner Volunteer Fire Department, and he served as chief.

He volunteered as a caretaker for Kempner Cemetery and served as president of the cemetery association. He was known for his friendly smile, firm handshake and sense of humor.

Malcolm was a member of Kempner United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and loved working with the youth programs.

In 1956, Malcolm met Barbara Ann Queen in Logan, West Virginia, where he was on leave with a fellow Marine. She agreed to go on a blind date with Malcolm, and they were married soon after in Richmond, Indiana. During their 65 years together, they traveled the world while raising their children.

Malcolm was preceded in death by his son, Jonnie Edward Thompson, and granddaughter, Danielle Spencer.

Survivors include his spouse, Barbara of Kempner; children Margaret (Ray) Morris of Kempner, Malcolm (Diane) Thompson III of Lampasas, Angela (Chuck) Burns of Lampasas and Mike (Sandy) Thompson of Copperas Cove; grandchildren Johnny, David and Becky (Mercer) Morris, Charlene (Tice) Spencer, Megan, Michael Jr. and David Thompson; and great-grandchildren Austin, Anna, Rachel, Alyssa, Josh, Peyton, Emma, Bentleigh, Hadley, Kendall, Ashlen, Kayelyn, Spencer and Kori.

Memorial donations may be made to Kempner Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 37, Kempner, TX 76539.