Richard "Dick" M. Thompson
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Richard M. "Dick" Thompson passed away on December 4, 2020 at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen, SD. He was a longtime resident of Visalia, CA. Dick was born November 26, 1936 in Perth Amboy, NJ to George and Josephine (Gibson) Thompson. He was raised in Metuchen, NJ where he graduated from high school in 1954. He was active in sports; baseball, basketball, track and cross country as well as student government and theatre arts. Upon graduation Dick entered the Air Force and served four years with the Air Defense Command in Newburgh, NY and the Strategic Air Command in Newfoundland. He was Honorably Discharged in 1958 and returned to his New Jersey home. Sometime thereafter, he joined Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in No. Brunswick, NJ in their Accounting Dept. while attending Rutgers Univ. This began a tire industry career which would span some 40 years. In Spring of 1962 Dick met Dolly Hermsen. They married in July 1963 and were blessed with three children: Richard Jr., Suzanne and Daniel. Dick meanwhile earned an early promotion into Goodyear's Credit Dept. which later resulted in his transfer in 1968 to the Boston area as the District Credit Manager for the New England states. In 1973 he accepted a position with the Armstrong Rubber Co. as a regional Credit Manager and relocated his family west to Visalia, CA. Unfortunately, the marriage later ended in divorce. Dick continued with Armstrong and in 1981 was offered a position with Armstrong's sales dept. as a district sales manager. In subsequent years he earned entry into the $10 million Sales Club and in 1988 earned District Sales Mgr. of the Year. In 1982 he met Carol Farnsworth who would become his wife for the next 32 years before her passing in 2014. The relationship flourished, they were both active in the Elks Lodge and were members of the Visalia Country Club where Carol served a term as President of the Ladies Club. Golf became their primary recreational focus, and they took many golf trips and vacations within California, Arizona, and their favorite venue, Myrtle Beach, SC. Socially they enjoyed hosting friends and family at home parties, pool parties in the warm months and Christmas parties during the season. Dick was preceded in death by his wife Carol, his son Daniel, his parents, and brothers: Bill, George, Frank and Jim; and his loyal Jack Russell Terrier, Princess. He is survived by his son Richard Jr. (Charlene) of Sparks, NV, his daughter, Suzanne Hofer (Tim) of Aberdeen, SD, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and his ex-wife, Dolly. A small private service with family and close friends will be held at a later date. www.spitzerfuneralhome.com