Richard F Thompson

Richard Thompson, 77, passed peacefully on June 5, 2025 in Arizona. Richard was born in Excelsior Springs MO to Robert and Mary (Horine) Thompson.Richard loved baseball and could be found on any ballfield playing in local leagues, as well as with neighborhood boys, that he would later call The Black Diamond Boys. He went to work mowing lawns around town as a boy and wore out more than a few sets of lawnmower wheels pushing his mower all over town. As an adult he continued to play baseball in several leagues around Richmond.Richard was a 1966 graduate of Richmond High School, where he enjoyed participation in all athletics. During his Senior year, he and a few friends ditched school one day and drove into Kansas City where he enlisted in the US Air Force, rather than wait for the draft notice to arrive in the mail. He proudly served in Thailand and was a member of Red Horse, trained to handle Agent Orange.After discharge, he worked at Turner's IGA in Richmond, when he married Ruby Davis, and became father to Nikko Thompson. After divorce he later married Kathy (Tate), adopted Kathy's children, Kimberly, Michelle, and Michael and welcomed daughter Kristina.In 1977 Richard moved his family to Arizona and began 35 years of working at Bashas' grocers. He played baseball and bowled on several teams, but his greatest pleasure in life was spending time with young people: training young workers in the stores and coaching baseball and softball with his children. Richard and Kathy later adopted son John and daughter Elaine, and Richard brought his mother Mary to live in his home.Richard was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May 2024 and had surgery to place a chemo port, endured a Whipple surgery, and began chemotherapy infusions.In April of 2025 Richard entered the ER for a blood transfusion and contracted pneumonia. He was told he had successfully overcome pancreatic cancer one week prior to his passing, but after being hospitalized through April and May, the pneumonia proved too powerful for his weakened immune system and Richard left his family and friends behind on June 5th.Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Mary, and daughter Kimberly.He is survived by wife Kathy, brother Jim and wife Karen of Kansas City, daughters Nikko and Michelle of Washington, Kristina and husband Robert of Texas, and Elaine of AZ, and sons Michael and wife Jackie of Idaho, and John of Oregon, and grandchildren Andrew, Gabriel, Austin, Samantha, Dallin, Emma, Nathan, Sadie, Abbygail, and Owen.Memorial service pending.