Grover Frank Thompson

Grover Frank Thompson January 17, 1939 to April 13th, 2026 Frank grew up on a farm in Iowa. After graduating from high school at 17, he decided he didn’t want to be a farmer. He joined the Army. During his service, he was a paratrooper, a helicopter mechanic, a helicopter pilot and logistician. He served 2 tours in Vietnam, 1963 and 1967-1968. During his second tour in Vietnam he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while participating in arial flight by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty. Under enemy fire, he rescued the crew from a downed helicopter, saving them from capture or death. While stationed in Katterbach Germany, he was Company Commander of Company B, Twelfth Maintenance Battalion, Fourth Armored Division. During his Army Career, he was selected to attend US Army Transportation School at Ft. Eustis Va, the Air Force Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, in Alabama, and the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey CA., where he received a Masters of Science Management Degree. Frank took advantage of every opportunity to further his education, attending night school at local colleges everywhere he was assigned. He received a Bachelors of Arts Degree at Iowa Wesleyan College and a Masters of Business Management Degree from St. Louis University. Army Life was good for Frank, because he was disciplined, loyal, a natural born leader, a man of his word, a real comrad in arms. After retiring, Frank worked at a consulting firm in the DC Area using the knowledge and expertise he acquired during his Army Career. Frank was well read, and did a Bible Study daily. He prayed over his family, friends and prayer requests. He was a member of the Curmudgeons, a group of men from his Church that he enjoyed and loved. Frank was also an avid golfer, always trying to improve his game. He traveled with and enjoyed his golfing buddies. Frank and Margie traveled extensively during their early retirement to such places as Hawaii, Isreal, Australia, New Zealand, Figi, the Mediterranean and frequent visits to friends and relatives in various states. He was married to Margie for 67 years and had two daughters and one son. Frank was a loving husband, a wonderful father. He was a curmudgeon, but had a sense of humor, so you never knew which one you were going to get. Frank is survived by his loving wife Margie, daughters Wendy Smith and Christy Shultzaberger (Craig), 8 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother John, and his son Robert. In lieu of flowers, donations to Doctors Without Borders in Frank’s name are appreciated.

Tributes

Grover Frank Thompson

April 13, 2026