Claude Thompson, Jr.

Claude Thompson, also known as Mister T to many, passed away on March 1, 2020. Claude was born in Runnels County, Texas on October 19, 1925 to Claud Thompson and Verda Mae (Yancey) Thompson.

Claude grew up on the family ranch, where he, with his brother and sisters, helped the family deal with livestock, also running a farm on acreage nearby. Ranching at the convergence of the Concho and Colorado rivers afforded the sons a chance to fish, frequently “noodling” catfish in a favorite water hole.

Claude's mother was a school teacher, and educated the children, along with others from Ballinger, Bethel and Paint Rock Texas. At the age of 17, Claude hitchhiked to Texas A&M, where he enrolled in classes leading to an agriculture engineering degree.

As WWII raged, Claude took a deferral from his education and joined the US Army, serving with distinction in the European Theater as an infantryman. Claude earned 2 Bronze Stars during his military career. Following discharge, Claude returned to A&M, finishing his studies in 1946.

Immediately following his graduation, Claude went to work for the United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, where he was assigned to Rotan Texas in Fisher County. While working in Rotan, Claude met Frances Sargent, and they were married. There, they raised son, Glenn Sargent Thompson.

Eventually, Claude transferred to Haskell Texas, where another son, Gregory Layne Thompson, was born. The Thompson family lived in Haskell Texas until late 1966, when Claude transferred to Uvalde Texas. There, Claude and Frances remained until Frances' passing in 2013, at which point Claude moved to Pflugerville, Texas, where Claude lived with Greg and Linda Thompson. Claude spent the last years of his life under the care of Sodalis Assisted Living, Memory Care unit.

Following Claude's retirement in 1996, he went back to work with the Uvalde Independent School District as a substitute teacher. While at UHS, Claude was affectionately referred to by students and staff as “Mister T”.

Claude was preceded in death by his son Glenn, brother Robert, and wife Frances. He is survived by his sisters, Shirley Mohler and Nancy Baker and husband Jake, son Greg and wife Linda, grandchildren Taadamexa Thompson Smith and husband Travis, Tanya Lynn Thompson McGonagill and husband John (JP), Tulley Nolan Thompson and wife Jacqueline, Susan Bethany Thompson and husband Matt Brown, 8 great-grandchildren, and countless nieces and nephews.

Services will be conducted by Chaplain Mike McClung of Hope Hospice at 11:30 March 7, 2020 at Rushing Estes Knowles Mortuary in Uvalde. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Hope Hospice of New Braunfels 611 N. Walnut ave. New Braunfels, Tx. 78130, or at hopehospice.net/donations.