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William Keith Thompson, M.D., went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Jan 14, at the age of 80. Keith was born in 1943 to Lonnie & Pauline Thompson, in High Point, NC. He graduated from NCSU in 1965 and received his medical degree from Bowman Gray School of Medicine in 1969. He met his wife, Hannah, during his pediatric residency at the University of Kentucky, and they were married on March 6, 1971. Following his residency Keith served in the navy at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, in Great Lakes, IL, from 1972 to 1974. After leaving the navy, he worked in Statesville, NC, for three years before joining Thomasville Pediatrics in 1978 where he worked until 2020. He had great joy in caring for the children and families.
Keith was known for his heart for missions, and went on medical mission trips in many countries, including Tanzania, Haiti, Russia, China, Kenya, Gabon, Cameron, Burundi, India, Nepal, Honduras, Guatemala, Romania, Estonia, Brazil, Papua New Guinea, and Belarus. He enjoyed hiking and camping with his children as well as "Granny and Papa Camp" in the summer with his grandchildren. Many considered Keith the kindest man they ever knew. Truly, the "law of kindness was in his mouth," always patient with any interruption as a "divine appointment" for that moment. He served as an elder at Community Bible Church in High Point and later at Rich Fork Baptist in Thomasville, where he was also very involved in the special needs ministry.
Keith is survived by his wife of 51 years, Hannah; his brother, Linwood Thompson; daughter, Camille; son, Josh and wife Bianca; three grandchildren, Isabelle, Gabe, and Grace; and 6 nieces and 3 nephews.
Memorials: in lieu of flowers, Keith can best be honored by memorial gifts to the special needs ministry at Rich Fork Church in Thomasville (www.richfork.com) and to Feed the Hunger ministry in Burlington (www.feedthehunger.org)
A Memorial Service will be held on February 11, 2023 11:00 a.m., at Rich Fork Baptist Church, 3993 Old US Hwy 29, Thomasville, NC, 27360 with Pastor Michael Bowers officiating. Online condolences may be sent to www.jcgreenandsons.com. https://www.jcgreenandsons.com/obituary/DrWilliamKeith-Thompson
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Julian Taylor
Keith Thompson was my best friend from the time we met in the 9th grade at Josephus Daniels Junior High School when we had both just moved to the big city of Raleigh North Carolina. Keith was very quiet, lived a Christian Life and largely flew under the radar during his school days. We went through NC State in a pre-medical study program together and in 1965 both entered Bowman Gray of Medicine, now the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and more lately Atrium. Keith worked harder in college to achieve his dream of becoming a physician than anyone else I have known and then worked hard at Medical school. Our paths separated after medical school and we only occasionally saw each other given our geographical location and separation by specialty. My wife and I were fortunate enough to be able to see him 3 days before his death. At that time he was unable to speak however he did himself with a quiet smile and tear in his eye.