Dr. Archie Carey Thompson, 99, died peacefully at home on November 8, 2021, surrounded by his son and daughter-in-law in North Ogden, Utah.
Arch was born on January 3, 1922 in Bluefield, West Virginia, to Shelby and Laura Kinser Thompson. Arch and his older brother Kermit often swam in the lake near their home.
He met his wife, Annabelle Summers, while working as a waiter while studying at West Virginia University. They were married on May 7, 1943 in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Arch was hired by the US Navy in 1943 and accepted into the Medical College of Virginia, where the Navy paid for his medical education. During the Second World War he worked as a medical officer for the Navy, led through new recruits and ended his military career as a first lieutenant.
Arch and Ann had four children, Steve, Nicka, Mark, and Jennifer. They moved to Elkins, West Virginia, in 1950, where Arch had accepted a position as an internal medicine doctor at Davis Memorial Hospital. He specialized in heart disease and was one of the first doctors in the country to use baby aspirin to help his patients with their diseases.
Arch served as president of the West Virginia Heart Association during his career, and was also an active member of the Rotary club and was temporarily president. Arch was a popular member of the Elkins community for his medical service for 37 years.
Each summer Arch and Ann took their children to Nags Head, North Carolina for a two-week vacation. Arch loved supporting his children and family time was very important to him.
After their retirement, Arch and Ann loved to travel the world and spent their later years in places like Portugal, Italy, Hawaii, among others. When they weren’t away, Arch was always there to take care of his garden and landscaping, or Elks Country Club, where he loved to play golf.
In 2010, Arch and Ann sold their Elkins home and moved to Greensboro, North Carolina to be closer to their daughter Nicka and her family. In 2013, Arch and Ann celebrated 70 years of marriage and were interviewed by the local news channel about their time together. Arch said “I’ve been assured that the next 70 years will be easier.” Arch’s wit and wisdom made it so nice to be with.
Arch’s beautiful wife, Ann, passed away on November 23, 2016. The following summer, Arch moved to Provo, Utah to be closer to his son Steve and other Utah families. He enjoyed being part of the many available activities on offer at the Courtyard at the Jamestown Assisted Living Center in Provo.
In September 2020, he moved to his son and daughter-in-law’s home in North Ogden, Utah to spend the remainder of his time with his family. Once a month the Thompson family gathered to celebrate birthdays, and Arch always looked forward to dessert as he was quite a sweet tooth.
Arch loved being around his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, and regularly said that there wasn’t a bad one in the group. He also said that his great-great-grandchildren were perfect because he never heard them cry (which the family always laughed and attributed that perception to his hearing loss).
Arch leaves his children to Steve (Sharon), North Ogden, Utah; Mark (Ken), Washington, DC; Jennifer, Atlanta, Georgia; five grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
In death he was preceded by his 72-year-old wife Ann; Daughter Nicka; Brother Kermit; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Elkins, West Virginia.
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