K.. Don Thompson
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D Obituary - March 1, 2020
n Thompson
July 26, 1937 - February 21, 2020
K. Don Thompson was born
July 26, 1937, and passed away
on February 21, 2020, at age 82.
Services will be held at Brown’s
Funeral Home in Grand Junction,
Colorado, Friday, March 6, at
11:00 a.m. Inurnment follows
at the Western Slope Veteran’s
Cemetery at 1:00 p.m.
K. Don Thompson spent his
early years in and around Delta,
Colorado. After a brief time attending junior college in Texas, he
returned to Delta and met Carolyn Nadine Tinsley. They were
married on November 28, 1959, and their 60 year marriage lasted
until his death. Their union resulted in two sons, Kelly Don (born
1961), and Cory Samuel (born 1967); as well as grandchildren,
Kaylee, Courtney, Madison, Krista, and Ryan. He had multiple
great-grandchildren.
K. Don retired from the Colorado State Highway Department
after 36 years; beginning in 1956 as a laborer and retiring in 1992
as an engineer. He worked on several highways including Highway
65 over the Grand Mesa and Interstate 70 from Vail Pass, through
Glenwood Canyon, and west to Grand Junction.
K. Don loved every minute that he served in the Colorado
National Guard. He entered military service on August 9, 1960,
reporting for Field Artillery Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His
service spans 32 years, three months and 26 days. Beginning his
career as a Private and earning all enlisted ranks, he attained his
goal, becoming the senior enlisted supervisor at company level; the
First Sergeant. His final assignment before retirement was a Master
Sergeant in Plans and Training at State Headquarters, Colorado
Army National Guard. He earned numerous decorations, medals,
badges, commendations and citations. He lived the life of the
Citizen Soldier.
During the mid 1970’s he served four years as the mayor of Eagle,
Colorado. While living in Eagle, he also opened and owned the
Country Closet clothing store.
K. Don enjoyed spending time at Lake Powell, camping, and
traveling in his RV. He loved antique automobiles and car shows,
as well as collecting military memorabilia. He wrote several papers
on military battles and leadership. He had an amazing group of
friends from high school with whom he had dinner with almost
every friday night from the early eighties up until his death. He will
be forever loved and always missed by his family and all the people
whose lives he touched in so many ways.
