Obituaries : * Thomas Thompson; Author, TV Producer

Thomas (Tommy) Thompson, an author of articles, books and television scripts on the American West and an associate producer of the Bonanza and Gunsmoke television shows, has died at his Newbury Park home.

Thompson, who was 80, died Thursday.

Thompson first wrote Western stories for pulp magazines in 1940 after stints as a sailor, a nightclub entertainer, a secretary and a furniture salesman. He later published hundreds of articles in national general-interest magazines and wrote 25 Western novels, including “Range Drifter,” “Shadow of the Butte” and “Bitter Water.”

He was a co-founder and president in 1957 of Western Writers of America and later received two of that group’s Spur Awards for his writing. Thompson was a life member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Thompson gained recognition as a scriptwriter and producer of the Bonanza and Gunsmoke television shows and wrote scripts for numerous other Western shows.

Born on Feb. 24, 1913, in Dixon, Calif., Thompson was a resident of Ventura County for 22 years. He was a charter member of the Thousand Oaks Elks Lodge.

Survivors include his wife, June; a daughter, Judy Greenspun; two sisters, Mrs. Jack Sardo and June Hodges; a brother, Hampton Thompson; three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Chapel, Westlake Village. A reception will follow at the Elks Lodge, 258 Conejo School Road, Thousand Oaks.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Mortuary, Westlake Village.

Gomez, Beatrice (Bebe), 67, of Ventura, homemaker. Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary, Santa Paula.

Houle, Vera Mae, 62, of Camarillo, homemaker. Guardian Memorial of Ventura County.

Loobey, Florence L., 93, of Ventura, retired teacher. Ted M. Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

Powell, Muriel (June), 99, of Santa Paula, homemaker. Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary, Santa Paula.

Shelley, Marjorie Irene, 82, of Oxnard, homemaker. Guardian Memorial of Ventura County.

Taylor, Emry E., 89, of Camarillo, retired machinist. Conejo Mountain Memorial Park, Camarillo.

Tombs, James Donald, 82, of Ventura, retired insurance agent with Equitable Life Insurance Co. Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

Vaughn, Norman, 63, of Ventura, retired business administrator with Texas Instruments. Guardian Memorial of Ventura County.