THOMPSON, Doctor William Robert
Doctor William Robert Thompson died at his home in Calhoun, Georgia on Labor Day, September 5, 2022. He was born November 16, 1922, and was just shy of 100 at the time of his death. His parents were Bob and Mamie Thompson. He was the youngest of the family of six brothers and sisters, Paul Thompson, Prudence Thompson, Ottie Mae Hodges. Fain Thompson, and Eloise Gentry all of whom preceded him in death. The family was originally from the Jerusalem Church Community in Pickens County, but moved to Fairmount, Georgia in the early 1900’s. Dr. Thompson was born and raised in Fairmount and graduated Fairmount High School in 1938. He attended Reinhart College and received an Associates Degree in 1940 before teaching at Fairmount High just prior to World War II. After induction into the Army, he served in the 87th “the golden acorn” infantry division attached to Patton’s third army in the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944. After days in combat, he suffered from frozen feet and was taken off the line and sent to England. The war ended before he was returned to active duty.
After the War, he attended the University of Georgia and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. He then attended the Medical College of Georgia, graduating with his Medicine Doctor, M.D in 1956. Shortly after graduation, he married Ouida Coren McKinney of Cordele, Georgia, and pursued his residency at Greenville General Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina. After a short stint of practice in Summerville, Georgia, he moved to Calhoun where he practiced medicine with Dr. Bill Purcell and Dr. Roy Rabb for approximately 40 years. He finally retired from the practice of medicine when he was 73.
Dr. Thompson was a pillar of the medical community in Calhoun and Gordon County for decades. His patients and their families numbered in the thousands. He served with the Hospital Board for years and worked on the construction of the current hospital before its acquisition by the Adventist Health Group. He was active in the 7th District Medical Association and had a large network of friendships of physicians in the Northwest Georgia area for care of his patients. In business, he was appointed and served for years on the Board of First Federal Savings & Loan before its acquisition by AmSouth in Birmingham, now Regions Bank.
His joy in life was his family and the game of golf. He was a long-time member of the Elks Club in Calhoun and Coosa Country Club in Rome. He won numerous tournaments and competed in the Georgia Amateur on more than one occasion and was able to make the cut to the top 72 amateurs in the State. Many articles in local newspapers were written about Dr. Thompson shooting his age and he was featured in an article with the Georgia State Golf Association Magazine in the Nov-Dec, 2013 Edition.
Out of sport came numerous friendships and experiences that gave a full life meaning.
With the help of his wife, Dr. Thompson was an accomplished traveler. From the middle 1970’s and up through the 2000’s, they went to the former Soviet Union and looked over the hills of Hong Kong to communist China. They went to India, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, part of South America and went to Europe on several occasions. As was his passion, he played the great golf courses of England, Scotland, and Ireland, such as St Andrews, Muirfield, Hoylake and Ballybunion. Traveling gave pleasure to his wife and as time went on he learned to enjoy travel and cherish the experience.
Dr. Thompson’s wife, Ouida, predeceased him in 2018 after 61 years of marriage. They are survived by William Robert Thompson, Jr. and his wife Lucila; John Gentry Thompson; and David McKinney Thompson, and his wife, Delores. He is also survived by three grandsons. Adam Weaver Thompson, William Robert Thompson, III, and John Russell Thompson and a step grandson Mark Owen. Dr. Thompson was the rock upon which a family has been built. His successors will endeavor to walk his path of honesty, faith, and charity. We will all miss you.
Funeral will be on Friday, September 9, 2022, at 2pm at Fairmount First Baptist Church.
Visitation will be at Thomas Funeral Home on Thursday from 5-8pm and also at the Church one hour prior to the service.
Thomas Funeral Home has proudly been entrusted with the care of Doctor William Robert Thompson.