Robert L. Thomas ’54

Robert “Bob” Lincoln Thomas, 82, of Vernon, beloved husband of Barbara (King) Thomas died peacefully on Monday, July 6, 2015 at his home, surrounded by his family.
He was born on April 30, 1933 in Springfield, MA, son of the late Reverend J. Lincoln and Mabel (Nye) Thomas. Bob grew up in Hopedale, MA and moved to Concord, NH in his teenage years.
He was graduate of Concord High School and went on to attend the Maine Maritime Academy and graduate from New England College in Henniker with a degree in Civil Engineering. He was married to his teenage sweetheart Barbara King on August 1, 1954, before leaving to serve in the U.S. Navy as a navigation and communications officer.
After the service they settled in Vernon in 1962 where they have lived ever since. Bob worked for the State of Connecticut as the head of Bridge Safety and Inspection for over 29 years. He then worked for Greiner Engineering , before working for Close Jensen & Miller where he retired in 2013.
Bob was the Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop #86 in Vernon for many years and was an avid hiker. He had the opportunity to hike every 4000 ft. mountain in New Hampshire and all of the Long Trail in Vermont, and many others. Bob loved to watch Red Sox, New York Giants, and UConn basketball games. Bob and Barbara traveled to all 50 states and many foreign countries. They loved to photograph nature. Bob was a member of the Snipsic Camera Club, the National Audubon Society and the Appalachian Mountain Club.

A kind, caring and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend he will be greatly missed. Along with his wife, Barbara of over 62 years he leaves his children, David Thomas and his wife Nancy of Vernon, Elisabeth Noel and her husband Joseph of South Berwick, ME and Catherine Guillemette and her husband Lawrence Jr., of South Windsor; grandchildren, Adam Thomas and his wife Cynthia of Manchester, Timothy Thomas and his wife Shauna of Ellington, Nicole Thomas of Vernon, Zachary Thomas of Vernon, Thomas Noel and his wife Haiyan of Madison, WI, Steven Noel and his wife Hannah of St. Paul, MN, Christopher and Daniel Guillemette of South Windsor ; great grandchildren, Nathaniel and Tyler Thomas and Hunter Noel; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Richard and Jean King of Trumbull; a niece, Kristin Walsh and her husband Robert of Stratford and a nephew, Mark King and his wife Cathy of Hamden ; a cousin Cheryl Wolfe and her husband Paul of Gilbertsville , MA.