Curtis "Bud" A. Thompson

Longtime Hawaii (and recent Tacoma) resident, Curtis A. “Bud” Thompson passed away peacefully on October 15th, 2011 in Lake Oswego, Oregon at the age of 88 following a short illness. Born to Helen (Wallene) and Einer C. Thompson in Ashland, Wisconsin, the family later moved to Portland, Oregon where Bud attended Benson Polytechnic High School. Soon after the United States entered WWII, Bud sailed by merchant ship from San Francisco to Hawaii where he became a naval tug boat skipper during the war, transporting supplies between Hawaii and the islands in the South Pacific. After the war ended, Bud purchased the 40’ cutter “Sindri”, starting one of the first yacht charters in Hawaii, taking tourists on cruises off Oahu’s shores and to the outer islands. A life-long love for boating found Bud sailing in many yacht races including the Transpacific Yacht Race, along with numerous local races around the Hawaiian Islands. Bud served as Commodore of the Hawaii Yacht Club in 1969 as well as General Chairman of the Honolulu Committee of the TRANSPAC RACE. Bud worked in the insurance business for Von Hamm-Young as manager for the company’s general insurance department, later opening his own insurance brokerage “Thompson Insurance Agency” in 1960. A member of Barbershop Harmony Society; Bud sang in the Sounds of Aloha Barbershop chorus and in various other quartets throughout the years, enjoying singing and attending barbershop competitions throughout the country. Preceded in death by his wife Nancy, Bud is survived by his four loving children, Sindri Thompson (partner Arlene) of Tacoma, WA; Jan Aitchison (Tom) of West Linn, OR; Shelley Young (Robert) of Hillsboro, OR, and son Kurt Thompson of Lakewood, WA. Grandchildren Kristin (Aitchison) Boyle of Seattle, WA; Kelli Aitchison of San Francisco, CA; Stephanie (Ben) Ryznar of Portland, OR; Renae (Tony) Bates of Brisbane, Australia; and Douglas Young of Portland, OR. A private celebration of Bud’s life will be held in Hawaii in January. Arrangements by Autumn Funerals, Cremation & Burial, Tigard.