Obituary

Bellingham, WA and Tempe, AZ

On May 19, 1956 Kenneth Earle Thompson was born in Millinocket, Maine to Wallace E. Thompson, Sr. and Faye Hartley Thompson. In 1968 Ken’s family moved to Bellingham, WA where on January 2, 1969 he met the love of his life and future bride, Michelle. Best of friends through middle school, high school and forever, they tied the knot on July 2, 1976 and had two wonderful sons, Adam and Jesse. Gainfully employed since the age of 11, Ken’s work ethic was beyond measure and using his sunny smile and giant heart, he endeared himself to only 3 employers in his adult life, but literally thousands of customers who would ask for Ken by name. Plagued by a bad heart, Ken spent the last 8 years of his life exhibiting the best qualities God calls a man to have; Kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, and Faith. The greatest of Ken’s qualities was his faith, faith that saw him fight battles most of us only read about – and through it all he remained convinced that God was keeping him coming back for a reason. That reason was the way anyone who ever met Ken felt when they parted company. Ken had a way of making a dark day brighter, a tough moment meaningful and the ability to put a positive spin on any disaster, especially his own. They say that what matters in the end is the lives one has touched while on earth, Ken touched many, many lives and always for the better. On May 27, 2014 Ken’s giant heart stopped beating and he joined his father, Wallace E. Thompson, Sr, his mother, Faye Hartley Thompson, his Grandmother, Madeline Tinkham at Jesus’ banquet table and you can bet he’s hold a spot for each of us that cares to join him. Ken leaves an enormous and deeply loved family; his beloved wife, Michelle, eldest son, Adam and youngest son & family, Jesse & Vicca Thompson and Grandsons, Sahani & Jerry Thompson. Sisters, Stephanie (Allen) Anderson, Vanessa (Dennis) Chitwood, Margaret (Chad) Kemp, brothers Wallace Thompson, II and Eugene Thompson. Ken shared a closeness with his in-laws as tight as any, Jerry & Carol Thompson, Don Thompson (deceased), Diane (Loren) Neyens, Laura Remsen, Jeff (Jan) Thompson, Valerie (Jon) Frazier, Robert (Jodi)Thompson, Kyle (Shelly) Danielson, Heidi (Stu) Soderquist, and Jerry (Melissa) Thompson, Jr. , and 26 nieces and nephews . Ken’s family circle wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the enormous Arizona family aunts, cousins, second cousins etc. who welcomed him into AZ in 2010 with open arms and made him feel so loved and welcome.