Clifton Thompson Sr., 87

A celebration of the life of Clifton Oliver Thompson Sr., 87, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico,  will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, at the Pongal Event Center in Rio Rancho. Mr. Thompson died Sept. 22 at his home with his family by his side.

He was born July 13, 1930, in Murphysboro, Illinois, the son of Mildred and Clifton Thompson, the oldest of three children. When he was young, his father was killed in a car crash, and he began working early in life to help his mother support the family. After finishing school, he joined the Army in 1949, and in 1950 in Cahokia, Illinois, he married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Marie Sims. Mr. Thompson served with the Army in the Korean and Viet Nam wars. His military career included training cadets at West Point, serving in the 101st Airborne Division, and eventually retiring as a first sergeant in the 82nd Airborne Division. After retiring from military service, he worked as a land agent with Peabody Energy Company in Illinois, retiring with 15 years of service. The Thompsons moved to Theodosia around 1989 and lived there until around 1995, when they moved to Rio Rancho to be closer to family.

Mr. Thompson is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 67 years; their five children, Kathleen Hurst and husband Damon, Deborah Torres and husband Michael, and Clifton Thompson Jr. and wife Suzanne, all of Rio Rancho, Sandra Matson and husband Gary of Surfside Beach, South Carolina, and Michael Thompson and wife MaryMargaret of St. Pete Beach, Florida; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and siblings William Thompson and Charlotte Miller, both of Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents. 

Burial with military honors will be held Friday morning at the Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  

Memorial contributions may be made to: Storehouse West, 1030 Veranda Dr. SE #F, Rio Rancho, NM 87124.