Byron Damon Thompson

Byron Damon Thompson was born on November 2, 1928, at Saratoga, Arkansas to George Lawrence Thompson and Fanta Mae Reed Thompson. He first became a resident of Howard County when his family moved from the Hempstead County side of Saratoga to the company village of Okay where his father was a supervisor at the newly constructed Ideal Cement Plant. After graduating from Saratoga High School in 1946, Byron enlisted in the U.S. Navy and after basic training was assigned to the medical corps at Long Beach Naval Hospital until his honorable discharge in 1948.Following his discharge, Byron attended Arkansas State Teachers College at Conway (University of Central Arkansas) where he was a member of the varsity basketball team and president of Sigma Tau Gama Fraternity. In 1950 Byron transferred to Henderson State Teachers College at Arkadelphia where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Byron taught and coached at both Saratoga and Hope before leaving the coaching and teaching profession to accept employment with Ideal Cement Company in Okay as Personnel Director and Safety Supervisor.In 1963 Byron became Plant Manager and remained in that capacity until 1979 at which time he was transferred to Denver, Colorado, as Regional Manager/Southern Region. At the time of his retirement from Ideal Basic Industries in 1984 Byron was Senior Vice President. While living in Howard County, Byron was active in both school and civic affairs serving as Member and President of the Saratoga-Okay School Board, Member and President of the Nashville School Board, Howard County Memorial Hospital Board, President Nashville Rotary Club, and Board Member Howard County Children's Center. He also actively participated in Little League and Babe Ruth League baseball programs serving as both coach and league commissioner. Byron was a member of Windsong Church of Christ.While coaching in Saratoga, Byron met and fell in love with Margaret Lee Ponder of Nashville, Arkansas. On January 24, 1953 he and Margaret were married and celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in January 2014. Byron passed away on August 28 at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. He is survived by his wife Margaret, a daughter Laura Rebecca Thompson of Little Rock, two sons Marshall Thompson (Missy) of Flower Mound, Texas; and Damon Thompson (Lisa) of Washington D.C.; a grandson Robert Byron Thompson of Columbia, South Carolina and Laura Catherine Thompson of Dallas, Texas. Byron is also survived by a sister, Wanda Crow of Shawnee, Oklahoma. He is preceded in death by his parents George and Fanta Thompson; three brothers, Charles, George and Marshall Thompson; and two sisters, Edith Thompson Cranford and Nina Thompson Seay Services will be held Wednesday, September 3, 2 PM at Latimer Funeral Home Chapel in Nashville, Arkansas under the direction of Latimer Funeral home. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in his name to the Children's Homes, Inc., 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, Arkansas, 72450; or to the Ship of Life, c/o Windsong Church of Christ, #3 Windsong Drive, North Little Rock, Arkansas, 72113. You may send an online sympathy message at www.latimerfuneralhome.com To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Byron Damon Thompson please visit our Sympathy Store.