Donald C. Thompson

Captain Donald C. Thompson, 83, of Page Springs, Cornville died March 26. He was born December 2, 1925 in Independence, Missouri, the son of Carl R. and Grace Tigner Thompson. He attended William Crisman High School and was a graduate of Missouri State College. He served in World War II in the Army Air Corp. Don started flying with his father and uncle who were barnstorming in Missouri. He obtained his flight certificate at age 16. He started his dream job of flying for Western Airlines on July 5, 1949. Captain Thompson retired from Western Airlines and Delta Airlines after 47 years of being a professional pilot. Don retired from Western Airlines at 60 and went back as a flight engineer for Wal-Western and then after their merger with Delta he worked just shy of 72nd birthday. He continued to enjoy flying, especially his Cheyenne and his Travelaire. He leaves his wife of eight years, Janice Kay Thompson; sons, Randall Carl (Robin) Thompson of Florida and Colin Scott (Kathy) Thompson of California; daughter Jonelle (Drew) Dudley of Nevada; sisters Josephine Stewart of Kansas and Katherine (Howard) Harrington of Missouri; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A memorial gathering will be held Saturday, April 4 in his Hangar D at the Cottonwood Airport at 10 AM. VFW Post 7400 will render military honors. Donations in his memory may be made to the Verde Valley Humane Society Building Fund, P O Box 1429, Cottonwood 86326. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com