Obituary for Dr. William Raleigh Thompson Jr

Dr. William Raleigh Thompson Jr., 90, passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 3, 2024, at home in Jacksonville. He lived a full and amazing life, bravely and honorably battling cancer and the effects of treatment for several years.

Raleigh was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was born and raised in Mandarin, Florida, and graduated from Landon High School and then Emory University.

After graduating from college, Raleigh joined the United States Navy and became a deck officer. After exemplary service in the Navy, he attended Emory University Medical School. Dr. Thompson and his family returned to the Jacksonville area in 1966 and settled in Orange Park. At the time, there were only four doctors practicing in the area, and he worked with three of them. In 1968, Dr. Thompson opened an independent medical practice where he provided the community with a full range of medical care: delivering babies, performing minor surgeries, and providing care and treatment to the entire family.

In the early 1970s, Dr. Thompson and two other physicians in the city decided that the Orange Park community needed its own hospital so that patients would not have to go to Jacksonville for care. After years of planning, the three financed and opened Orange Park Community Hospital, now HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital. Dr. Thompson was a leader in the medical community, serving as chief of medical staff and president of the Clay County Medical Association. He was also instrumental in establishing the Family Practice Program at NAS Jacksonville Regional Medical Center. Raleigh loved and faithfully served the rapidly growing Orange Park community in many ways, seen and unseen. His leadership in the development of Grace Episcopal Church and St. Patrick’s Day School. John are just two examples of his devotion.

Dr. Thompson has enjoyed serving as a mentor to many physicians who have practiced in Clay County over the years. After 59 years of service at Orange Park, he retired in October 2023. He has always said that the most rewarding part of his career is the relationships he enjoys with his patients. Dr. Thompson considered his patients and their families dear friends and was honored to be a part of their lives.

Raleigh was a pilot, an avid outdoorsman, a Mason and a Shriner. One of his greatest joys was traveling with his wife, children and grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his father, William Raleigh Thompson Sr., his mother, Lucille Thompson Allen and his wife of 43 years, Joanne Nelson Thompson.

He is survived by his loving and faithful wife of 23 years, Lane Moore Thompson, and his children: William Raleigh Thompson, III (Marcela), Lance Nelson Thompson (Tonya), Jody Thompson, Ashley Thompson Senn (Kurt), Ruth Thompson Burchfield, Thomas Grayson Harmon (Joelle), Beth Harmon Lute (Dann), Tracie Harmon Jacobs (Steve) and Heather Harmon. He was a loving “dad” to his grandchildren: William Raleigh Thompson IV (Sayuri), Bess Thompson (Travis), Katie Thompson, Sean Thompson, Carolina Thompson, Jackson Robinson (Katherine), William Robinson (London), Banks Robinson, Raleigh Robinson, Blake Senn (Lindsey), Cole Senn (Sarah), Rachel Burchfield, Roxie Reeve (Fergus), Sasha Lute, Zach Lute, Peyton Taylor (Sean), London Harmon, Mackenna Jacobs, Cali Jacobs and Ridge Jacobs; and his great-grandchildren: Raleigh, Hugo, Tyson, Sofia, Lennox, Holden, Lydia and Jonathon. And of course, Dr. Thompson left behind hundreds of friends and patients he considered family.

Please join us for a visitation with family and friends on June 16 from 4-6 p.m. at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home (127 Blanding Boulevard, Orange Park). The funeral ceremony will take place on June 17 at 1:00 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of St. Mark (4129 Oxford Avenue). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider making a donation in his memory to: Forgotten Children Ministries “Operations” (fcmhonduras.org/donate), the American Cancer Society (https://donate.cancer.org) or a charity of your choice.