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In Passing

In Passing
Wallace B. Thomson Print E-mail
By Phillip R Smith   
January 29, 2010
Wallace B. Thomson (1917-2009)

Wallace "Wally" Bruce Thomson, a USCF life member from Prescott, Arizona, formerly of Northridge, California, died December 28, 2009 in Prescott. He was 92. 

He was born September 6, 1917 in Hackensack, New Jersey, the son of Jay Earle and Adelaide Thomson. After college, Mr. Thomson taught high school and then served as a Marine Corps fighter pilot in the South Pacific during World War II. He described WWII as the most significant event of his life and was working on a book on the subject when he passed away. After the war, he married Emma Jane Beale of Big Spring, Texas. They were married for 38 years until she died in 1989. Mr. Thomson worked for a number of aerospace firms and was awarded six U.S. patents. After retiring from Rockwell (Boeing), he and his wife traveled and he lectured and wrote extensively about his wartime experiences. 

Mr. Thomson was an avid chess player and achieved Class A status before he stopped competing in USCF-rated tournaments. He also taught chess. In addition to being an author, amateur historian and poet, he was also interested in golf, astronomy and mathematics. He lived in Northridge, California for 40 years before moving to Prescott four years ago. 

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Myrtle (Greenwood Mullen) Thomson; a son, Bruce Thomson; two daughters, Barbara Thomson and Mary Aalto; and a grandson, William Aalto.

Obituary submitted by George Mirijanian, Massachusetts Chess Association
 
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