Russell W. Thompson

MESA – The world lost a wonderful, loving and courageous man on February 25, 2021.

Russ was born on April 3rd 1959 to Caleb (Deacon) and Gwendolyn Thompson in Mesa, Arizona.

He was raised and lived most of his life in Mesa. He graduated from Mesa High School in 1977.

He is survived by his loving wife Kimberly, daughters Melissa and Hannah Thompson and son Jeffery Thompson. All of whom were there for him during his time of need. He was the fourth of four children and is also survived by his two brothers

Ezekiel (Zeke) Horn and Caleb Gene Thompson as well as his sister Cynthia Colton.

Russ worked for Mesa Unified School District #4 for 32 years. He began his career in September 1981 and retired in June 2013. His work ethic enabled him to learn, adapt and grow along with the District’s needs. He was originally hired to the position of Courier in the district’s Data Processing department. After much hard work he soon became one of the district’s mainframe computer operators. With the introduction of personal computers into the district he trained and studied to become one of the district’s first PC repair technicians in the newly formed Information Systems department. Ultimately he rose to the position of Supervisor of Technical Support. Also, it was here that he met his beloved wife Kimberly. He courted her with vigor. She finally relented to his powerful personality and they were married on March 21, 1987. At the time of his passing they had been married 34 years.

Russ was adventurous in his pursuit of life. He was an avid outdoorsman. He loved spending time in the mountains and deserts of Arizona, taking in all the beauty they had to offer. He always knew the best places for camping and four wheeling. He knew the choicest dark sky spots for watching comets and meteor showers. And in his younger days he was an avid tuber of the Salt and Verde rivers. Russ was a scholar on all things Arizona. If you had a question about a plant, a cactus, an animal or a place and time in Arizona’s history Russ was the man to ask. If he knew the answer, which he did 99% of the time; you would learn from his in depth knowledge of Arizona. If he didn’t, he’d make up such a perfect response that you’d never know you’d been hoodwinked.

Russ loved his family and their welfare was his top priority. He enriched the lives of all those around him. He was so many things: a son, a father a husband, a music lover (especially live music) and a truly great friend. But let me tell you what he wasn’t. He wasn’t afraid! He wasn’t afraid of judgment. “To thine own self be true”. He wasn’t afraid of friendship, love or romance, a bad joke or a good time. He wasn’t afraid of impossible tasks or holding difficult conversations. He wasn’t afraid of living life to its fullest and he wasn’t afraid of death. No matter how hard or unfair life may have been to Russ near the end, he loved it in all its infinite glory. He embraced life without reservation. He lived these last couple of years with grace and dignity. He did so with no regrets and no remorse and that is rare. We should all wish that more people were unafraid of life, like Russ. It’s the thing the world will miss most about him.

R – real and robust man rich and full of life

U – unique and rare in personality

S – straight forward, candid and genuine in nature

S – story teller about everything from cutting his grass to preparing for the after life

E – energetic, filled with vitality for life

L – loving husband, father and friend

L – lustful and passionate with a hunger and zest to enjoy life to its fullest W – wonderful person, amazing friend, phenomenal human being and always fun to be around

T – tremendous personality with a flair for giving of himself

H – honorable and trustworthy to the core

O – opinionated, assertive and self assured

M – married to the love of his life Kim or Boo as he affectionately referred to her

P – purposeful, determined and resolute in all things life threw at him

S – strong in body, in heart and in spirit to the very end

O – ornate and gilded, living life his way, can you say suspenders and wearing sunglasses at night

N – noble, exalted in moral and mental character while remaining novel in his approach to life

Please join Russ’s family and friends in sharing memories, photos and stories on his tribute page at www.sonoranskiesmortuaryaz.com