Richard “Dick” Leroy Thompson

Richard “Dick” Leroy Thompson, 89, of Butler passed away peacefully Jan. 14 at home.

Born Nov. 7, 1925, in Butler, Mr. Thompson was a son of the late Leroy Harry Thompson and Hazel Mae (Roe). He graduated from Butler High School in 1944.

Mr. Thompson was a veteran of World War II, serving first with the U.S. Maritime Service and later in the U.S. Army.

He worked as a rigger in the electrical steel division for the Armco Steel Plant in Butler for 30 years, retiring in 1983.

He enjoyed his retirement immensely, designing and creating all sorts of treasures, including a working water wheel, a half-acre stocked pond, hand woven baskets, wooden stilts and so much more. He was a self-taught Renaissance man with a relentless work ethic, intellectual curiosity and an enthusiasm for life.

His home, which he built single-handedly in 1955, was filled with musical instruments that he taught himself to play, every kind of tool and hundreds of books on a variety of topics. An avid historian, Mr. Thompson carefully researched and documented family history dating back several generations.

He was generous to all who knew him, sharing his tools and equipment with neighbors, allowing free use of his fresh water spring and pond and frequently giving away an item just because someone might have a use for it and then buying it again for himself. He was a tremendously loving and devoted uncle and is dearly missed.

Surviving are his nieces, Amy R. (Thompson) Dietz of Port Matilda, Pa., and Ellen (Thompson) Barnett of Unionville, Pa.; two nephews, Brian Robert Thompson of Poundridge, N.Y., and David Richard Thompson of Leawood, Kan.; and many other family members, neighbors and friends. In addition to his parents, Mr. Thompson was preceded in death by his brother, Robert L. Thompson.

THOMPSON — In keeping with the wishes of Richard “Dick” Leroy Thompson, who died Jan. 14, 2015, funeral services were not conducted.