Delmer Leroy John Thompson was born in Nowata, Oklahoma, on June 22, 1939 and attended grade school in Osawatomie, Kansas. After graduating from Osawatomie High School in 1958 he enlisted in the military branch of the Air Force and retired after 23 years of service. He later went to work as a civilian accountant at the Air Force Accounting and Finance Center and retired in 2001. During this span of employment, he attended National College and received a Bachelor of Science degree. "Tom" received many awards and honors for his military service and from his civilian jobs.

While stationed in Denver, Colorado, he met his present wife, Delmariea. They discovered that between them they had nine children, Delmariea with three and Delmer with six. Their journey together brought them into the company of many loving friends who affectionately called him "Tom". He would entertain them with many stories about his childhood, his military experience and life in general. With each telling of the stories they were embellished even more.

He leaves to mourn his wife of 25 years, Delmariea Thompson; six children--Ade Randall Thompson (Melinda), Lori Thompson and Delmer Thompson, Jr, all of Atlanta, Ga., Deanna Thompson of Lee's Summit, Mo., Carla Hough (John ) of Tulsa, Okla., and Wendy Thompson of Topeka; three step-grandchildren --Mariea Singleton of Denver, Colo., Turueman Denny III (LaJuanda) of Saratoga, Calif., and Garry Denny (Dana) of Madison, Wisc.; two brothers --James "Red" Thompson (Pearline) of Denver, Colo., and Everett S. Thompson (Lilian) of Topeka, and 15 grandchildren. His parents and four siblings proceeded him in death.