Sam Thompson, Jr., 83, of Beaumont, went to be with the Lord on October 14, 2014. Born and raised in Southeast Texas, the son of a logging contractor, he graduated from Silsbee High School and soon thereafter enlisted in the United States Air Force. He retired from the Air Force and Texaco with 20 and 23 years respectively. He lived in Beaumont for the last 36 yrs and was a lifelong member of Sabine Tabernacle.
He was born to the late Sam and Nora Thompson and was proceeded in death by his first wife Emily Thompson, 2 brothers, 1 sister, 2 sisters-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law.
He is survived by his wife Barbara, sons Edward Thompson and his wife Elizabeth of Colleyville, Texas; Sam Thompson, III and his wife Cori; Frank Kevin Thompson and his wife Eleana; Dean Kelly Thompson and his wife Glenda; daughter Beth Jones and her husband Bryan, all of Beaumont, and Brenda Jones Noland and her husband Mike, of Manvel, Texas; nineteen grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, one sister Jo Nell Gartman and her husband Tommy from Houston, and brothers and sisters-in-law Pat Thompson, Doris Thompson, Sonny Hansen, Robert Hansen and his wife Ann, and Pat Glaze, and numerous nieces and nephews.
God, family, country, work, was the order of his priorities. He delighted in his service as an usher at Sabine Tabernacle. His commitment to family was never more evident than in the unwavering devotion and dedication to caring totally for his first wife Emily during her battle with cancer, and through the end. His patriotism was evident, not only in the 20 years of service in the Air Force, but in the way he walked, talked and held on for his country.
He was firm in the belief that if you trust God, work hard, and do the right thing, you could never go wrong. His strong work ethic has been instilled in his children, grandchildren and will be in his great grandchildren. A belief and implication that you give all that you have to the task at hand and you will be rewarded knowing you did the very best you could.
His love for people and his great sense of humor, meant that he rarely went anywhere without running into a friend. Family waited patiently for him while he visited with friends he had run into everywhere from local restaurants, all the way to the Denver Airport and beyond. The Lord blessed him with Barbara, his second wife, and they spent the last 20 years growing in the Lord together, watching their family grow, traveling and just enjoying retirement.
He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, fellow church members and former co-workers.
Funeral services for Sam Thompson, Jr., 83, of Beaumont will be held Saturday, Oct. 18th, at 10:00 a.m. at Sabine Tabernacle. Interment will follow in Magnolia Cemetery.
A gathering of family and friends will be on Friday, Oct. 17th, from 5-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.