Dr. Robert Vaughn Tompson

Dr. Robert Vaughn Tompson, 92, of Moberly, MO, passed away, May 11, 2024.  He was born August 18th, 1931, in Mexico, MO to Willard Dudley and Nellie Gray (Vaughn) Tompson.

Robert graduated from Moberly High School in 1949, where he sang in the choir and a male quartet.  He also played basketball and football while in high school and is renowned for kicking a 65-yard punt from the line of scrimmage against Fulton. After graduation he attended Moberly Junior College and joined the Army National Guard 175th MP battalion. During his second year of college his unit was put on active duty. While serving at Camp Rucker, AL Robert took the entrance exam for West Point and was transferred to Stewart Air Base in New York where he had the opportunity to take a year of prep school.  At the conclusion of that year, he found out he had won one of the military competitive appointments to attend West Point Medicine had always been a part of Robert’s life with Dr. Tom Fleming as a neighbor and mentor who encouraged his love for medicine.  With Dr. Tom’s encouragement and support, Robert resigned from West Point at the conclusion of his second year and spent a year in the Washington DC area to take required courses for medical school at The George Washington University. In the fall of 1954, Robert entered medical school where he met his future wife Vivian Andrews, who was a classmate of his. In June of 1955, he and Vivian married in Washington DC.  Vivian worked at the Patent Office to support them while Robert finished medical school. In 1958 Robert graduated from The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Upon completion of Medical School, Robert began a residency in surgery at the University of Missouri - Columbia. After two years in residency, Robert joined the medical corps of the US Air Force.  During his time in the Air Force, Robert was stationed in Tinker Air Force Base, The Washington Hospital Center, and March Air Force Base.  After serving in the Air Force, Robert returned to Moberly to become a surgeon at Woodland Hospital. During his time as a surgeon in Moberly, he served as a Board Member for Blue Cross Blue Shield and on the Missouri State Medical Board.

In addition to his career, Robert was also active in the community where he served on the Moberly School Board for eight years and the Moberly Community College Board for twelve years. Robert was also active in the Moberly Rotary Club and the Randolph County Historical Society while he pursued his hobbies of singing and making fine jewelry.  After retiring from medicine, Robert became passionate about silver smithing and began attending and teaching at the William Holland School of Lapidary Arts in GA. He could frequently be seen at Art on the Block and other craft shows teaching kids to polish rocks and sharing his passion for rocks. He was also an active member in the Columbia Lapidary Club. Robert’s love of music continued as he was a member of the Chord Busters Barbershop Harmony Society and sang tenor in a male quartet. Finally, Robert enjoyed hunting with his brothers and sons, and spending time with his friends like Howard Fleming and Corbin Newcomb.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, his three brothers Willard (Ester) Tompson of British Columbia, Canada, Carroll (Marsha) Tompson of Winston Salem, NC, and Clifford (Mary) Tompson of Columbia, MO.  He is survived by his wife Vivian (Andrews) Tompson, his four children; Robert Tompson Jr. of Columbia, MO, Richard (Terri) Tompson of West Plains, MO, Karen (David) Wolfe of Auxvasse, MO, and Ronald (Melody) Tompson of Moberly, MO; five grandchildren, Courtney Tompson of Columbia, MO, Travis Tompson of St. Louis, MO, Patrick Tompson of Moberly, MO and Alaina Tompson of West Plains, MO, Jeremy Tompson of Moberly, MO; and, four great grandchildren Kirsten Tompson, Andrew Tompson, Kendall Tompson-Hays and Brody Tompson-Hays.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Moberly Community College Foundation and the Randolph County Historical Society.

Words of comfort and support were shared with the family at a visitation held at the Cater Funeral Home Chapel, followed by funeral services honoring and celebrating Dr. Robert’s life.   Military Honors, committal prayer and burial took place at the Oakland Cemetery.