In loving memory of a great man...

This post is late, but I wanted to get it on my blog to remember and honor a great man – my grandpa, Woodrow Marsh Thompson.

We decided on Memorial Day to go and visit my grandpa’s grave at the Springville cemetery. We were just getting out of our car and walking over to the grave when my parents drove up with my grandma - that was a nice surprise. I don’t know if our kids remember my grandpa very well, Danielle was 5 and Ashley was 1 ½ years old when he died.

My grandpa, Woodrow Thompson, was born in Evanston, Wyoming on December 24th, 1916 to Charles and Sarah Thompson. He was the youngest of 5 brothers and sisters. They lived on a 360 acre land in Evanston and moved into town during the winter to put the children in school. My grandpa was only 22 months old when his father, age 39, died of the flu. His older brother, Fredrick, age 16, ended up being the breadwinner for the family. His family moved to Provo in 1930. He had various odd jobs in his life, but eventually found one he enjoyed – accounting.

On July 3rd, 1937, he met my grandma, Veryl Davis, and was married 4 months later in the SLC temple, November 23, 1937.

They had their first child, Karen, on December 29th, 1938 and their second child, Stephen (my dad) on May 12, 1944.

They enjoyed life as a family for about a year when my grandpa was drafted in the Infantry at Fort Douglas, Utah during World War II. He completed his basic training and was sent to Yokohama, Japan to serve in the Depot Surgeon’s office for 13 months.

After being discharged he worked for Anderson Lumber Co. for a while, and then in May of 1947 he began a Public Accounting and Tax practice working out of his home. They had their 3rd child, Sue, on April 20th 1949 and their 4th child, Philip, on December 2, 1952, and then their last child, Jill, was born March 5, 1956.

My grandparents went on numerous trips to China, California, Alaska, Hawaii and Europe and they traveled around the US in their old green RV camper. (I can still remember the smell of that RV).

My grandpa died on New Year’s Day 2004.

The memories I had of my grandpa was his wonderful disposition, he was a quiet man and always in high spirits. I also remember his great love for my grandma, you could always catch them holding hands during every prayer. He was an inspiration and a huge example in my life.