Rev. L. Dean Thompson, 78 years of age, passed away Monday, November 18, 2024, at home in Manhattan, Kansas.
Dean was born in Topeka, Kansas, on June 17, 1946, and was adopted shortly thereafter by Rev. Ivan and Eva (Heald) Thompson. He grew up and attended schools in Girard, his beloved hometown, where he recently celebrated with his
classmates at the GRHS Class of 1964 60th Reunion. Dean spent his life recounting wonderful memories of his idyllic small-town childhood.
Dean graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Bethany Nazarene College, a master’s degree from Pittsburg State University, and studied in the doctoral program at the University of Kansas. In 1984, he became an ordained elder in The Church of the Nazarene. While his tenor voice could have likely taken him around the world, Dean obeyed the calling on his life to preach the Word and love the local church.
In August of 1975, he married the love of his life, Norma, and in May of 1976, he was called to his first pastorate in Columbus, Kansas. Dean and Norma spent over 40 years in full-time ministry together, serving congregations in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arizona. Through the years, Dean led choirs, provided meals, attended camps, held revivals, performed weddings and funerals, celebrated births, mourned the lost, and prayed for the hurting. His was a life of service, dedicated to the Lord that he loved for all his days.
Dean is survived by his daughters, Janie Ballenger, and her husband, Jim, of Selma, Indiana; and Tara Jensen, and her husband, Jim, of Manhattan, Kansas; son, Jim Townsend, and his wife, Jamie Schlichenmayer, of Denver, Colorado; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; half-brother, Gary Vernon, and his wife, Phyllis, of Norfolk, Virginia; step-sisters, Marilyn Clevenger, and her husband, Bob, and Sandy Weiand of Nashville, Tennessee; and a host of friends from the schools he attended, the communities he served, and the churches he pastored.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, cherished stepmother, Evelyn Thompson, sister, Elaine, and half-sisters, Marlene Todd and Sandra Newman.
The family wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to the Nazarene Church congregations in Dalton, Georgia and Manhattan, Kansas, who loved and supported us during years of our parents’ declining health. We are forever grateful.
Funeral services will be at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 26, 2024, in the First Christian Church in Girard, with burial in the Girard Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 until service time.
Memorials may be sent in Dean’s name to the Music Ministry of the Manhattan Church of the Nazarene at 3031 Kimball Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502 or left at the service or the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, 518 W St. John, Box 258, Girard, 66743.
Condolences may be sent to www.wallfuneralservices.com
