Billy Joe Thompson

Ward Wilson Funeral Home

Viewed: 2423

Posted by: Ward Wilson
Date: Mar 10 2015 4:00 PM

Billy Joe Thompson was born March 25, 1945 at home in Houston County Alabama to Della Mae West-Thompson.  He was third of seven children who were raised by a loving but tough as nails mother.  He graduated from Rehobeth High School in 1963 and unlike most young men at the time…He jumped at the chance to join the United States Air Force in 1965 instead of waiting to get drafted.  He did his basic training in Texas before shipping out to Vietnam.  Although his main responsibility was refueling jets- he did see the death and destruction around him and was very glad when he was once again on American soil.  He finished out his enlistment at the United States Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  He continued an additional two years in the reserves for a total of six years in service to his Country.

Out one night with his fellow Air Force buddies at “The Mayflower”, a local watering hole in Cheyenne, he met the love of his life, Vyola Dinkel.  He was dared by “the boys” to ask her to dance to a George Jones song, “Walk through This World with Me” and they have been walking together ever since.  They sealed the deal in Fort Collins, Colorado on June 30^th. 1967.  Still in the Air Force they lived in Cheyenne for a brief time until he was discharged and then he moved his family to Fort Collins, Colorado where his wife is from.  He remained in Colorado until he left to return home to Alabama in 1984.  He briefly worked for Colorado State University and during this time he was discharged from the reserves in 1969 and his son, Michael Troy was born.  He then started his career with The City of Fort Collins Light and Power in March of 1970 where he remained working as a lineman until his move to Dothan in October of 1984.  While living in Colorado he enjoyed many activities; He was the pitcher on the Light & Power softball team, he bowled on a couple of leagues, he fished, he camped and he hunted and almost every year he traveled back to his beloved Alabama to see his family and friends and to look at the land he had purchased dreaming about the day he could build a house and a life there.

 That moment finally arrived after his oldest child, his daughter, graduated in 1984 and moved down to Pensacola to go to college.  He wasted no time packing up and selling the house and coming home in October of the same year.  He was back where he could plant a garden.  He was back where he could eat Figs off his trees and not have to pay crazy amounts of money for a pound of pecans because they were all over his land.  He could actually find boiled peanuts and he could talk Alabama football with man, woman or child.  He created a beautiful home and yard on this property he and his wife had owned for many years.  He wasn’t all play and no work however…

He did start employment with City of Dothan Light and Power as a general lineman in April of 1985 working hard he worked his way up to the General Line and Service Supervisor where he stayed until his well-deserved retirement on May 1^st. 2007.   Over the years his children grew up.  His daughter lived in Colorado for the most part- except when he came to the rescue to move her back and forth from some or other place in the south. Unfortunately, he was too sick to mover her back to the south this last time.  His son stayed here in Dothan and had two kids.  His son, Cameron graduates high school in a few months.  His daughter, Brittany had two daughters, Savannah and Raelyn who were the light of their PaPa’s life.  He truly loved being home in Alabama.  He loved having his hands in the soil.  He could grow anything- like a vet could mend a wounded animal he could make a stick grow into something to eat or something beautiful.  His yard was meticulous.  Between his azaleas, daffodils, and countless other flowers he has- it is his Roses that he truly valued above all.  His garden was no joke either!  When he wasn’t working on that he was probably catching fish or eating fish with his partners in crime; his brother in law, Larry Gryzwa and Bo Shipes, his best friend and neighbor.

 He was always outdoors even when Alabama football was on.  He would come in the house for ten minute intervals and then go back out to the garage and shell his pecans and listen to it on the radio.  He just could not stand to be inside.  If he could have he would have hooked up a tv outside to watch Alabama play.  He taught his children, grandchildren and his great grandchildren their first words…….Roll Tide!

He loved all things authentic; Rock and Roll, Old Country, Bluegrass and Blues.  He didn’t have the time, patience or taste for the new-fangled styles of today’s music and that goes for tv as well.  Forget Reality tv he wanted John Wayne, the Discovery Channel, How is it Made and DIY.  He did it himself.  He loved to build things and he was a perfectionist.  If you ever worked with him then you know that.  He passed that on to his children along with good work ethic and good values.

He was preceded in death by his mother MS. Dell Mae West-Holland, brother- Jackie Randall Thompson and Nephew- Vince Hollis

He is survived by his wife- Vyola (Dinkel)- Thompson of Dothan,AL  Daughter- Tia M. Thompson of Dothan, AL  Son- Michael T. (Susan) Thompson of Ashford, AL   Grand-daughter- Brittany (Clay) Downs of Ashford,  Grandson- Cameron Thompson of Dothan, Al  Great-grand-daughters- Savannah N. and Raelyn S Downs of Ashford AL  Step Grand-children- Austin Knight and Samantha Evans of Ashford, AL  Sisters:  Mable (Mitch) LeRoy of Cowarts, AL  Barbara Roberts of Dothan, AL  Jean Smith of Dothan, AL  Brothers:  William “Buddy” (Carolyn) Thompson of Rehobeth, AL  Jerome Thompson of Dothan, AL    Nieces and Nephews:  Sandra Kay, Connie, Sidney, Cindy, Jennifer, Lori, Keisha, Kyla and Christopher

And many Brothers and Sister in laws and nieces and nephews in Florida, Georgia, Missouri, California, Las Vegas and Colorado

Billy was fiercely loved in body form and is fiercely loved in spirit by his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He fiercely loved three things; His Family, His Country, and His Alabama Football!

We Love You            God Bless America                       and          Roll Tide Roll!

<- back