Jack Rodney “Rod” Thompson, Jr., 67, died in his sleep on Monday morning, December 2, 2013, at his home in Beaumont, Texas. Rod grew up in southeast Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1968, receiving a commission in the United States Air Force. He served as a Supply and Missile Officer and earned a Masters of Business Administration from Pepperdine University before leaving military service in 1976 to return to Texas and raise his family. He followed in his father’s footsteps and became an Industrial Sales Representative for Snap-on Tools in 1992, eventually retiring from the company in 2012.

In 1994, he met and married Sharon Smith, his lovely wife of almost 20 years. He loved his Fightin' Texas A&M Aggies, a passion superseded only by cooking for and spending time with his large extended family.

Rod is survived by his wife, Sharon; his son, Jeff and wife, Michelle; daughter, Kim; stepchildren, Kesha Tincopa and husband, Jose; Trey Smith; and Kortney Sturhan and husband, Shawn. Rod was especially proud of his 10 grandchildren, Ian, Taylor, Amelia, and Collin Thompson; Joshua, Daniel, Matthew and Seth Tincopa and Kathryn and Caroline Sturhan. Other survivors include his brother, Don Thompson and wife, Vicki, his sister, Becky Davies, and many Uncles, Aunts, Cousins and Friends throughout the country. His 67 years were full of life and love of family.  

Rod’s family wishes to thank Steven Sooudi, MD, and Sheila DeVaugh for his intensive medical care over the last several years and the entire staff at Broussard’s for their compassionate guidance during a difficult time.

A funeral service with military honors and a remembrance celebration will be held at 10:00 a.m. at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, on Friday, December 6, 2013, and are being handled under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations are being accepted in memory of Rod Thompson to Some Other Place of Beaumont, P.O. Box 843, Beaumont, Texas 77704 and the Air Warrior Courage Foundation, P.O. Box 877, Silver Spring, Maryland 20918. Below is more information about the memorial contributions.

Some Other Place in Beaumont, Texas was founded in 1968 by the local religious community to meet the unmet emergency needs of the local poor and "hurting" residents of the Beaumont community. When no one could help they were told they had to go to some other place . . .  thus, the name Some Other Place, a place when all else fails. S.O.P. is funded solely by donations from concerned people of local religious congregations, business and civic groups and individuals.  We are staffed by hundreds of volunteers, and supported by a limited staff . . . people who are "putting their faith to work."  http://www.sopbmt.org/

The Air Warrior Courage Foundation was formed by military aviators to “care for our own.”  The Air Warrior Courage Foundation works closely with the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association and focuses on active duty, guard, reserve and retired military personnel and their families needing financial assistance for medical, educational, and other extraordinary expenses not covered by other military, veterans’, or charitable institutions. Air Warrior Courage Foundation has been repeatedly awarded the “Best in America” certification by the Independent Certified Charities of America group. http://www.airwarriorcourage.org