The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-08-06
Thompson
Rites Tuesday
Rose Croix Will
Conduct Services

Walter ]. Thompson. who had
watched and helped Tacoma to
grow since 1888. when he bought
here a small bank in an equally
small pioneer village. died Sat
urday night at the age of 81 at
his Gravelly lake home.
Funeral services are set for 3
O'Clock Tuesday afternoon at the
Buckley-King chapel TIA m a
chapter. Rose Croix. Of the Scot
fish Rite. will conduct the service
at the chapel. Tacoma lodge No.
%. F. 4 A. NJ. will conduct grave
side services at Tacoma cemetery.
For the Rose Croix service at
the chapel. officers will be William
B. Stephens, 33d degree, master;
z. X Murray. 33d degree, orator;
Felix Robinson, X. c. c. H.. senior
warden: Ernest T. Mock. X. c. C.
H., junior warden. They will be
assisted by George NJ. Lee. Will
liam c. Wheeler, Harry E. Hatch
and Russell c. Barlow, all 33d
degree. Herbert Ford viii sing.
Active pallbearers will be chos-
en- from Tacoma lodge No. %.
All active and honorary 33d de-
gree Masons in this Jurisdiction
will be honorary pallbearers. since
Mr.. Thompson was distinguished
as the oldest 33d degree Mason in
point of service in the u. S. at
the time of his death.
Keen Until End
Slim and wiry, Mr.. Thompson
had kept active throughout the
years, maintaining to the last in
spite of infirmities of age and a
stroke which he suffered a few
months ago. a keen interest In
community events, politics, inter-
national affairs and the current
picture shows, which he attended
regularly.
He leaves his son, Ray w.
Thompson. widely known real es-
tate operator of Lakewood; a
grandson, william; a sister, Mrs.
Henry Drum, all of Gravelly lake;
three nieces, Mrs. Harold w. Ly-
man of Gravelly lake, Mrs. Homer
A. Post of Tacoma and Mrs. F..
G. Wills of Seattle, and a nephew,
William A. Drum of Gravelly lake.
Native of Wisconsin
Walter J. Thompson was born
in Spring Prairie, Wis, on Jan.
rs, 1883. His parents were Thorn
as j. and Barbara j. Thompson.
He attended school at Burlington,
Wis, and worked as carpenter dur
ing vacations. But the newer
country of Nebraska called him
and in 1871 he moved to Hebron
where he studied law, served two
years as deputy county treasurer
and organized a bank. He was
admitted to the bar there in 1875
and developed some of the power
OF oratory which was to serve him
in public affairs in the still newer
community. Tacoma, which he
chose in 1883.
In that year he bought the Bank
Of New Tacoma and became a fl
nancial power in the small pioneer
town. He founded and became
president of the Merchants Nation
al bank here in 1884 and continued
as its president until 1898.
Served In Both Houses
He served two years in the terri
torial legislature. then a term in
the senate. A lifelong Republican,
though always on the progressive
rather than the conservative side,
he was delegate to two national
conventions, those of 1888 and 1916.
Mr.. Thompson twice refused nomi-
nation to be mayor of Tacoma.
He first entered the Masonic or
der in ITS when he Joined Hebron
(Neb) lodge. When he came to
Tacoma, he transferred his affili-
alton to Tacoma lodge No. %, and
served two terms as its master.
He helped to organize the first
Tacoma Chamber of Commerce and
was its first vice president.
His gifts to the community were
extensive. He gave MANY books 10