Richard L. Thompson

Richard L. Thompson Richard L. Thompson, 86, of Dempseytown, passed away at 9:23 a.m. on Tuesday, February 22, at UPMC Northwest in Seneca. Born November 30, 1924, in Oakland Township, Venango County, Richard was the son of the late Harold and Esther Kaltenbaugh Thompson. He was married October 18, 1968 to the former Pauline M. Frankenberger and she survives. Richard was a WWII Army Air Corp Veteran where he served as a pilot with the Army Air Force Bombardier Training School in Midland, Texas. While with the Army Air Force, he was responsible for piloting bombardier students on practice missions in AT-11 Aircraft, supervising functioning and the servicing of airplanes and commanded all crew members. He was also responsible for carefully carrying out instructions as a pilot in regards to mission, route altitude and weather conditions and logged in over 900 hours of flying time. Richard was a recipient of the WWII Victory Medal and an American Service Medal. He worked for the Pennsylvania Rail Road as a laborer in the Car Shop, and for Franklin Steel as a supervisor in the Post Shop. He was a member of the International Order of Odd Fellows Dempseytown Lodge and the Oil City Moose. He enjoyed golfing and participated in several senior golf leagues. Richard also was an avid woodworker and built his own home. In addition to his wife, Richard is survived by his children, Gary Thompson and his special friend, Donna Puleio, of Cooperstown, Kathleen Plyler and her husband, David, of Dempseytown, and Linda Prichard and her husband, Loren, of Harborcreek; and his step-children, Larry DeWayne Thompson and his wife, Jane of Dempseytown, and Gail Baker and her husband, Vernon Lee, of Carlton. He is additionally survived by his twelve grandchildren, Scott Prichard and his wife, Kerry, of Harborcreek, Jeffrey Prichard of Bloomsburg, Jill Rathburn and her husband, Scott, of Erie, Jennifer Prichard and her husband, Tom Clark, of Lewis Center, Ohio, Michael Plyler of Dempseytown, Sara Temple and her husband, Bill, of Waterford, David Plyler, Jr. and his wife, Heather, of Slippery Rock, Ryan R. Thompson of Dempseytown, Virginia Kellogg and her husband, David, of Dempseytown, Ron Thompson and his wife, Michelle, of Franklin, Nicholas Thompson and his wife, Jonelle, and Randall Thompson and his wife, Kandi, all of Oil City; and thirty-two great-grandchildren. Additionally, Richard, is survived by his brothers, Robert Thompson and his wife, Mary, of Longview, Texas and Jason Thompson and his wife, Pat, of Abilene, Texas; his sister, Mildred Thompson of Chicago, Illinois; and his sister-in-law, Maureen Thompson of Franklin. In addition to his parents, Richard was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy (Owens) Thompson, and his brother, Duane Thompson. Family and friends will be received at the Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc., 1315 Chestnut Street, Franklin, on Thursday, February 24 from 3 to 7 p.m. and on Friday, February 25 from 10 to 11 a.m. Funeral Services for Mr. Thompson will be held at the Funeral Home on Friday, February 25 at 11 a.m. Military Honors will be accorded by the local V.E.T.S. Honor Guard. Interment will follow in Bethel Cemetery. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department, Cooperstown PA 16317. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.gardinierfuneralhome.com.