Father Walter Douglas Thompson died peacefully at home following an illness on Jan. 27, 2017. All are invited to atend a Celebration of Life on Friday, Feb. 2, at Christ Church Eureka, 625 15th St. (15th & H Sts) Eureka at 2 p.m.

Lovingly know as Father Doug or Flooger Dooigie by his younger parishoners, he ministered to many and was loved by all who knew him. Father Doug was a graduate of Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, and was ordained into the Episcopal Preisthood on Jan. 25, 1965.

Doug earned his Bachelors degree at Southern Oregon College in 1961, and this is where he met the love of his life, Hannell (Nellie) Rippee. Doug and Nellie cebebrated their 56th wedding anniversay just days before his death. Doug served at many parishes in his 50+ years as an Ordained Episcopal Preist — they included Curat at St. Matthews Episcopal Church, Portland, Ore. 1964-1966; Vicar at St. Mary’s Episcpal Church, Gardiner Ore. and St. Andrews Epsocpal Church, Florence Ore. 1966-1970; Curat at Calvary Episcopal Church, Santa Cruz Ca. 1970-1972; Rector at Episcopal Church of St. Anne, Stockton, CA 1972-1976; Rector at St. Pauls Episcopal Church, Klamath Falls, Ore. 1976-1982 and finally as Rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Eureka Ca. 1982-2000. On January 26th 2003 Doug was bestowed the honor of Rector Emeritus by the members of Christ Church, Eureka.

Doug was the only son of Walter Louis Thompson and Alta Fay MacDonald, brother of Maudie Jane Thompson Williams, loving husband of Hannell (Nellie) Rippee Thompson, Wonder Dad to daughters Sarah Diane Thompson (deceased) and twins Julianna Marie Thompson- Corliss and Suzanna Lynne Thompson Spencer and amazing Grandpa to James Francis Brady. He was also a fun loving uncle to numerous nieces and nephews.

Doug loved to travel and spent much time pitching and repacking the family’s canvas tent and driving for hours on end from camp site to campsite. Summertime aways found him planning and taking an educational, scenery filled roadrip with Nellie and the girls. He was an absolute master at trivia and when someone needed a diffiult question answered the statement “Ask Doug Thompson” was shouted aloud!

Doug spent countless hours volunteering and showing supprt in each community he was part of, from coaching soccer when his fifth grade daughters suddenly had no coach for their team (season record 1-22, or so it seemed) to ringing the Salvation Army bells at Christmas, driving groups of kids to summer camp, and using his booming bass/baritone/tenor voice (depending on his health) in carolling trips to those who needed beauiful music during holidays past. Doug was a lifetime blood donor, often being called in the middle of the night to be a live donor for a newborn in need, and his favorite was, of course, the time spent overseeing (and sometimes napping amongst) the historical archives in the Humboldt Room at the County Library.

In a more official capacity he served on boards for Eureka Senior Resource Center, Lions Club (Klamath Falls), Rotarty Club and Rotary Scholarship Board (Eureka) and Dioscean Council for the Diocese of Northern California, to name a few.

Doug was a friend to many, a source of common sense, unconditional love, a mentor, a non-judgmental ear and the giver of the biggest bear hugs around. He will be missed greatly by for those of us fortunate enough to have loved him. He will be a perpetual beacon of light and hope.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Doug Thompson’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.