Walter Lowery Thompson

Walter Lowery Thompson was born on a farm just southeast of Weslaco, Texas on October 21^st, 1936. His parents had moved to South Texas in 1931 in the beginnings of the Great Depression to be near his grandparents who had moved to the Weslaco area in the late 1920s. He grew up in a strong Christian family with three siblings, his older sisters Delia and Sue, and his younger brother Donald. Every Saturday their family would come to town to eat at the Bluebird Café and catch the Saturday old western picture show.

Walter showed an interest in sports very early, playing football at Stephen F. Austin elementary school, and almost every sport they had in junior high and high school. At Weslaco High he was very active in student activities as well and had a close group of friends. Since he was one of the only people with a car and unlimited gas, he and his friends were always out driving around “doing what boys do” as Sherry puts it. During the summer of 1952 between freshman and sophomore year Walter and Sherry started dating. They were high school sweethearts that got married in the summer of 1957, and were together ever since.

Growing up, during the summers he would help with work at his family's business, Border Butane, which he would later take over running in the early 1970s. In 1976 he merged the business with Bell Butane and renamed it to Federal Petroleum. He would run the company until he sold it in 2011.

Walter and Sherry had two children Kent and Kally in 1958 and 1960. While working at Border Butane, Walter saved up just enough money so that they could take their first family vacation in 1963 to Colorado on a shoestring budget. It would be another 10 years before they could take another family vacation, this time with a little trailer. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and owned several boats throughout his life. He loved traveling and adventure, and Walter and his family started taking yearly trips around the United States in the late 1970s and did these yearly trips until 2016. 

Walter led a good long life full of adventure with his wife Sherry, his children, and his grandchildren. He loved his family and his friends dearly, and he will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife Sherry, his son Kent, his brother Donald (Mary), his grandchildren Courtney, Kyle, Jeremy, Michaela, his great granddaughter Lily, as well as many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Merle and Paul, sisters Delia and Sue, and his daughter Kally.

Visitation will take place on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, from 2 pm to 3 pm, followed by a 3pm funeral service at McCaleb Funeral Home. The interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Aurora House Foundation at P.O. Box 976, Weslaco, TX 78599 or to the First Baptist Church at 600 S. Kansas, Weslaco, TX 78596.