Thompson, Benedict Drury
Birth: Friday, January 13, 1939 in Leonardtown, Maryland
Residence: Walkersville, Maryland
Death: Saturday, April 30, 2016 at the age of 77
Laid to Rest: in the St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Hollywood, Maryland
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Benedict ("Dick", "Buddy") Drury Thompson, DDS, 77, of Walkersville, MD died Saturday, April 30th 2016 at Frederick Memorial Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Sheila Thompson, his wife of 48 years. Born in Leonardtown, MD on January 13th, 1939 he was the son of Joseph Upton and Miriam Thompson. Dick was predeceased by his parents, his brother Upton Thompson Jr. and sister Patricia Suit.

Dick was the second of nine children and grew up on a tobacco farm in Hollywood, MD. He attended St. John's Catholic School in Hollywood and St. Mary's Ryken High School in Leonardtown. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve while still in high school. After earning a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Catholic University, he attended Marine Corps Officer Candidate School and accepted an officer's commission in the US Marine Corps. Following regular duty, Dick joined the US Marine Corps Reserve and worked as an engineer at Vitro Corporation. He met Sheila in 1966 while preparing for enrollment in Dental School at the University of Maryland. They married in 1967 and spent their early years with summers at Camp LeJeune, NC and the academic year in Baltimore. Following graduation, Dick began a thirty year dental career in Walkersville, MD.

Dr. Thompson, as he was known to much of Walkersville, was constantly involved with community and church. Some of these activities include 43 years of service to the Glade Valley Lions Club, where he was about to serve his third term as president. He was a PTA president, a charter member of the WHS boosters, GVAA Football Commissioner, Frederick County Dental Society president, and any activities supporting his three children as they were growing up. His volunteer work grew after he was retired, and he was able to serve Meals on Wheels, Rebuilding Together, Planting Hope, St. Peter's Youth Group work in Appalachia, as well as various 5K fundraisers. He was a faithful friend to friends who were sick or unable to be home. He cherished weekly visits with his mother at his childhood home, helping to care for her until her death at age 99. A favorite activity of late was regular coffee with the Boys at McDonalds.

Dick Thompson was a man for all seasons; he never stopped learning, reading, building, fixing cars, crafting a sailboat, helping Catholic University plan Reunion activities, and traveling wherever his wife decided they should go, including annual family reunions in Minnesota or Wisconsin. His involvement with his faith and church was never-ending. He participated in Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, attended the "Following Christ" program, was a greeter for Mass, and did extensive work for maintenance projects on the St. Peter's Church campus.

Above all, Dick was devoted to his family: wife Sheila, son Patrick of St. Paul, MN, daughter Maureen (Doug) of Gambrills, MD, son Michael (Debra) of Clarksburg, MD, grandchildren Kieran, Bridget, and Maeve Sevec and Nora, Elena, and Kelly Thompson, sisters Franny Thompson (George), Elizabeth Blackwell (Alan), brothers Wayne Thompson (Joan), G. Michael Thompson (Barbara), John Thompson (Elise), Sam Thompson (Susan), sister-in-law Marylou Thompson, brother-in-law Steve Suit, and in-laws Kathleen and Jerry Dillon, Eileen and Steve Richter, Michael and Peggy Whalin, and Mary Whalin.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Libertytown, MD on Saturday, May 7th at 11:00 am. Officiating will be Rev. Jason Worley and Rev. Eugene Nickol. A private burial will take place at St. John's Cemetery in Hollywood, MD at a later date.

The family will receive visitors at Stauffer Funeral Home on Opossumtown Pike on Thursday, May 5th from 6-8 pm and Friday, May 6th from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 with Msgr. Richard Murphy presiding. In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to St. Peter's Catholic Church, Friends of Meals on Wheels of Frederick County, or the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
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