August 29, 1927 - August 18, 2020

As part of the Greatest Generation Dr. Richard Lee Thompson was born at the beginning of the Depression in Maryville, Missouri to farmers John and Reah Thompson. They abandoned the farm during the Dust Bowl and moved to California…first to Watts, then Lodi and finally to Downey where Dick and his sister Mary graduated from Downey High School in 1944. He then joined the Navy at the end of World War II. He earned a Bachelors degree in Business from USC before being recalled into the Navy for the Korean War. He trained in the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT), the precursor to the Navy SEALs. Dick was a frogman. After completing his service he returned to USC and the School of Dentistry. Dick practiced dentistry in Laguna Beach. Before leaving for his tour in Korea he married Barbara LIntz Thompson from Long Beach in 1951. Barbara and Dick had two sons, Bobby and Doug. Barbara and Dick loved golf and were among the original members of El Niguel Country Club. Dick earned his small craft pilots license and flew his parents and grandmother back to Missouri as a special trip. After retirement Dick enjoyed his family, his golf and foremost USC football. He rarely missed a game. He was inducted into the Downey High School Hall of Fame in 2005. He fell in love and married Irmgard Barth at the age of 79. Dick is survived by his son, Doug and wife Lisa Mae, grandson, Andrew, granddaughter, Corrina and niece Denise Whitney. We will celebrate his life and 93 birthday on August 29. Fight on!