Dr. Lewis William Thompson Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Dr. Lewis William Thompson joined his previously deceased family and friends at 1:15 AM on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Ruth Ann Lee Thompson; daughters Brenda (Brooks) Bolton, Sharon (Kevin) Hedgecock, and Margaret Ann (Ned) Bartlebaugh; and grandchildren James Brooks Bolton, Stephen (Madison) Bartlebaugh, Hannah Bolton, William Bolton, Grace (Josh) Martinez, Jacquelyn Hedgecock, Mary Bolton, and Johnathon Hedgecock, all of whom were the love of his life. Lewis was the older of two children of Lewis and Louise Thompson, both of whom were educators--his mother an elementary teacher and his father a teacher, public school administrator, and college professor in the Lexington, Kentucky community from whom he received a sustained interest in exploring new interests and challenges. His sister, Peggy, four years younger, “the smartest and most beautiful girl in his life before Ruth Ann,” preceded him in death in 1982 as a victim of cancer. Dr. Thompson attended a large elementary/junior high school in Lexington, Kentucky, administrated by his father, the principal, which he occasionally related was both an advantage and a disadvantage. Then to a large high school, Lexington Lafayette, where he excelled scholastically in math and history; but loved science because of the many questions of “how and why.” Golf became his sport when after breaking his nose boxing and playing junior high basketball, his mother refused to allow him to play high school football. On the Lafayette golf team, with his ability, he made the traveling five his junior and senior years which put him with the likes of Gay Brewer, Jr., John Y. Brown, and close town team rival Johnny Owens which opened many venues of friendship and competition and his love of “manicured nature” (the golf courses). College in Wilmore, Kentucky (near his home in Lexington) opened the door to a career in medicine where he received his B.S. degree in chemistry and biology, then entry into medical school at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. However, in college, flirting with his chemistry laboratory instructor, Ruth Ann Lee, led to a 67-year marital journey. In medical school, his love of anatomy combined with his innate aesthetic sense, along with his personality type directed him first into General Surgery then Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. His transformation from General Surgery to Plastic Surgery was explained by him as, “In the former, the surgeon covered up his work, while the plastic surgeon had to be more precise because the world continually sees his good and not so good results.” Dr. Thompson’s interest in others led him to a deeper dimension of medicine, teaching things he learned about patients’ needs and how to help them; thus his academic interest in teaching medical students, general surgery trainees, and plastic surgery trainees. As an academician, first on the staff of Indiana University Medical Center (his plastic surgery alma mater under Dr. James Bennett), then to George Washington University Medical Center in Washington. D.C. and Children’s Hospital National Medical Center, and finally Oral Roberts University School of Medicine in Oklahoma, he fulfilled this part of his medical life interest. At the latter two universities he served as Professor and Chairman of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Divisions. As an academician, he chose to specialize in Pediatric Plastic Surgery and repeatedly said, “The children who are presented into life with deformities are the most deserving; and, after all, children are society’s future.” This opened many doors of gratification, from his beloved patients to surgical contributions. He was the chief surgeon of a team which was the first to perform a cranio-facial deformity surgical correction in the USA west of the Alleghany Mountains. His cleft/lip palate children were his first love and when he moved West to Oklahoma for further academic challenges, some of his pediatric patients continued to come for their follow-up, including a few from countries out of the USA. Though the laboratory was not his first love, he conducted various research endeavors: “Effects of Radiation on Wound Healing,” to mention one, thus fulfilling that required role of an academician. Dr. Thompson’s contributions within medicine and the medical community were numerous including chairing university departments and committees, hospital committees, and national organization committees. Also, he authored several medical articles and chapters in medical books. He served on and chaired government organizations—U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and served on many state and community organizations. Dr. Thompson was not only a medical doctor but also a devout Christian and strong supporter of living by one’s principles. He attended his United Methodist church regularly and served a gamut of responsibilities as Lay Leader on most committees. However, his first love was mission outreach, not only local but international; and he traveled on several missionary teams both medical as well as construction with adults and youth. After retiring from the practice of medicine, Dr. Thompson freely gave his time and organizational/administrative skills for the asking and helped with various fund-raising activities for the church and community organizations. In addition, he pursued his love of outdoor activities, especially hunting and his hunting dogs, and traveled extensively, plus took on new challenges with computer and music, to mention a few. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to Boston Avenue United Methodist Church’s Mission Fund. The service will be live streamed at: https://www.bostonavenue.org/worship/life-events or https://youtu.be/Lsdn2H1o0GM

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Dr. Lewis William Thompson

April 27, 1933 - June 15, 2022