Val L. Thompson passed away on July 5, 2017, at the Canyonlands Care Center in Moab, Utah.
Val was born on April 26, 1934, to Guy Thompson and Eva Mecham, in Bennett, Utah.
Val graduated from high school and auto body trade tech school in the Salt Lake City area. There he met and married Ivy Gines; seven children were born to this union. They moved to Moab in 1955 to work for Clair Tangren at Clair’s Body Shop. In 1959, Val started Thompson’s Body Shop. Through the years, he added radiator repair, glass, towing service and a wrecking yard service. He also moved mobile homes.
He was very hard-working and ambitious and didn’t retire until he was in his 70s. He also loved to hunt and fish. He liked nothing more than to be on a lake in his boat fishing. He was the first member of Hatt’s Pheasant Hunting Ranch. The kids and family were always part of the adventure, whether working or playing.
Val loved movies of all kinds, especially old Westerns, James Bond, John Wayne and Clint Eastwood.
Val was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served in many capacities.
Val and Ivy divorced in 1987, and he married Ruby Mills. They later divorced and he married Nancy Minor. Val and his family blended nicely with the Minor family and they had 20 years together before Nancy passed in 2016.
Val was preceded in death by his son Brian; his wife Nancy; sister Valoie Earnshaw; and his half-brother Steve Thompson.
He is survived by Ivy (the mother of his children) and Ruby Mills. He is also survived by sisters Bonnie Wertzbaugher and Helen Bastow; brother Grant Earnshaw; sons Rick (Cindy), Valden (Claudia) and Chad (Amy); daughters Valerie, Pam and Valoie (Jay); stepson Kenneth (Lourae) Minor, step-daughter Annette (Tom) Gabriella; 33 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Services were held on Monday, July 10, conducted by Moab 1st Ward Bishop Knutson.
The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to the Canyonlands Care Center staff and doctors for their loving service to Val. A special thank-you to everyone that visited him and loved him. We are grateful. We wish to thank all those who provided food and services before and during his funeral, including Moab 1st Ward Relief Society.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.spanishvalleymortuary.com.
