Windell Thompson

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

Windell Delano Thompson, 80, of Anderson, Missouri, departed this life on Friday, September 13, 2024, at McDonald County Living Center in Anderson, Missouri.

April 3, 1944 a baby boy was born in Elkhart, Kansas. His mother, Dorothy Salmon Thompson and father, Lloyd Raymond Thompson named him Windell Delano. Delano for his Grandfather Elijah Delano Thompson - English through the Boone family lineage- pleasing Grandfather Thompson this bit of a namesake.

April 3, 1946 the event that rearranged Windell's life began. In an old farm red 1938 International pickup the family slowly traversed western Kansas through the Oklahoma panhandle into Southwest Missouri. There in McDonald County on the bank of Big Sugar Creek, snug in his Grandparents Salmon home Windell slept the night of his 2nd birthday. Days later a cake with two candles appeared.

Along the many miles from Kansas to Missouri, Windell had eagerly pointed out every bug that splattered on the windshield and walked or crawled on the ground at the roadside picnic site and on the blanket where the family ate their luncheon sandwiches of bread and butter. Uncle who was driving the truck quickly dubbed him "Bugs," an endearment that lasted the years. 

 This new home was vastly different from the dry, brown sand of a western Kansas yard. There was green grass to walk barefoot on, green leaves of shade trees to sit under, green bushes exploding with fragrant blossoms and a river with shallow water made just for little people to splash in. July came, a baby sister was born making the family, now 6, complete. That summer they settled into a small white farmhouse on 20 acres located on an exciting roadway, Thief Hollow Road. (This name conjured many hair-raising, fright filled stories to be shared on stormy nights.)

The years passed, farm chores and school prevailed. Softball, young friends, books, "muscle" cars and travel. Yes, much travel and many jobs. Windell became the"gypsy" his Grandfather Salmon had been lovingly dubbed years earlier. 

 Out of Missouri West toward California, no looking back. He did not spend much time in anyone place, simply working his living as he moved job to job. Up the West Coast to Oregon where he briefly settled. Then the east, Pennsylvania, the land of his ancestry called. Having traveled the width of these United States still restless, he returned to Missouri to Technical school in Joplin where he found his professional niche. Amazingly with no to little classroom experience of algebra or higher math, he was like a sponge, soaking in concepts of geometry, calculus and trigonometry learning to develop program design, shape and cut into machines for the production of tight tolerance parts, components and pieces in industries of aircraft, automotive and appliance. His first job with Boeing Aircraft, Wichita, Kansas.

Windell was fond of the " old West," both fact and fiction. He owned and enjoyed several revolvers and rifles. Despite an old eye injury during grade school he could still shoot straight. Mechanics, especially old trucks, became a busy hobby. Several " golden oldies" came and went through his small garage. One winter he spent restoring an old player piano for his mother. Repairing, making and replacing parts he gave new life to an old instrument and a gift of enjoyment to his mother for many years to come. Indeed, Windell's talents were many.

Three siblings survive their brother Windell and one sibling preceded him in death.

Memorial donations in Windell's memory should be to: McDonald County Living Center, 1000 Patterson Street , Anderson, Missouri 64831, where he was well cared for in his last years having been a victim of Parkinson's Disease.

The family will receive friends on Monday, October 7, 2024 from 3-4:00 p.m. at Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Missouri.