Raymond Thompson, Derby
December 15, 1928 - August 14, 2022
Raymond E. Thompson, 93, entered into eternal rest on August 14, 2022 in Derby, Kansas. Ray was born December 15, 1928 in Pueblo, Colorado and spent many wonderful years there. He graduated from Central High School in Pueblo and then enlisted and served two years in the Navy. Ray then attended Pueblo Jr. College followed by Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO where he graduated with a degree in forestry.
After graduation he was united in marriage to Sharon Stewart, which was later dissolved. To this marriage they were blessed with 10 children.
Ray worked for the U. S. Forest Service, the Soil Conservation Service, and Olin Mathison Ag. Chemical Company. After moving to Beloit, Kansas Ray worked at Boettcher Enterprise where, in 1990, he was honored by 60 other agribusiness leaders for his leadership, vision and commitment to the environment and agricultural industry. In 1993 Ray retired from Boettcher Enterprise.
In 1971, Ray was humbled to be authorized by His Excellency, the most Reverend Cyril Vogel, Bishop of Salina, KS to serve as a Eucharistic minister at St. John's Catholic Church in Beloit, KS. He also served on the St. John's Catholic School board and the Beloit City Council. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus.
Ray enjoyed being outdoors, hunting, fishing, and camping. He never met a stranger and could talk to anyone about anything. He spent the last 28 years of his life traveling to the mountains of Colorado and spending most of his summers in southern Texas while residing in Dennison, TX with wife Darlene Willoughby.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, brother Bill, daughter Rebecca Thompson and son-in-law, Gene Lindsay.
He is survived by his wife Darlene Willoughby, sister Loretta Polka, daughters Deborah (Mike) Grejtak, Mary (Kent) Garst, Rhonda Lindsay (companion Dan), Catherine (Van) Heinz, and Rachel Thompson and sons David (Lisa) Thompson, Stuart (Pat) Thompson, Robert (Jennifer) Thompson, Michael (Brandie) Thompson, and a stepson, Taylor (Charleen) Willoughby, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral service with military rites will be at 11:00 Saturday, September 17th at St John's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation with family will be from 5-7:00 p.m. Friday, September 16th at Roberts Family Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Interim Healthcare and Hospice of Wichita, Kansas and Knights of Columbus Beloit, Kansas.
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