Walter Robert Thompson, 97, of Beaumont, died Sunday, August 11, 2013, at Summer Place Nursing and Rehabilitation, Beaumont, Texas. He was born on October 23, 1915, to Maude Elizabeth Alwood Thompson and Frederick Aaron Thompson, in Columbia, South Dakota.

From his early beginnings, Walt had a fondness for understanding how things work, and made a life of learning, building and fixing various kinds of equipment. Walt started, built and ran Walt’s Appliance Repair in Tucson, Arizona. When he decided he’d traveled enough, he started a second career working for the University of Arizona maintenance department.

Walt also traveled in other ways. As a sixty-seven year Mason, Walt contributed his many talents to the craft, eventually earning the title of 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason.

A talented woodworker, Walt was always tinkering in his woodshop, making beautiful wood pieces for his family, friends, and even for people who he took a liking to and he gave them with joy. His friends and family knew him to be generous with a warm and quick sense of humor. Walt will be missed by many, including Muffin, his canine buddy.

Survivors include his daughters, Patricia McKinley and her husband, Harry, of Beaumont, Texas, and Sharon Finkenbine and her husband, Roger, of Tucson, Arizona; son, Duane Thompson and his wife, Pat, of Tucson, Arizona; seven grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Ann Thompson; and son, Ronald Thompson.

A memorial service for Walt will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 30, 2013, at Barrier Chapel-Casas Church, 10801 North La Cholla Boulevard, Oro Valley, Arizona.

The family would like to thank the staff of Summer Place and Girling Hospice for their wonderful love and care of their father.