Thomas L. Jobe Jr.

1943 - 2018

Thomas Lester Jobe Jr., 74, of Delmont, died unexpectedly Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. He was born Feb. 24, 1943, in Delmont, son of the late Thomas L. Sr. and Helen (Branthoover) Jobe. Tom, better known to friends as T.J., went to the Delmont School through sixth grade and graduated from Franklin Regional High School class of 1961, then went on to graduate from Grove City College with a B.S. in chemistry in 1965. He started his working career at the early age of 10, working for Tomer's greenhouse, where he boasted the wage of 50 cents per hour. After college, he moved to Silver Spring, Md., where he resided and worked for the Bureau of Standards for nearly three decades as a chemist, abstracting data for worldwide dissemination. He co-authored a treatise on thermodynamics that has been translated in more than five languages. Upon retiring, T.J. then worked for the University of Maryland in the same capacity, but also got to work with doctoral students, editing their dissertations. T.J. moved back into his childhood home after his final retirement from the working force and lived there until his passing. T.J. was a member of Delmont Presbyterian Church, the NRA, the Isaac Walton League, the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of DeMolay. While living in Maryland, T.J. was a season ticket holder for the Washington Redskins, never missing a home game in more than 30 years, and also attended some away games in a chartered DC-3. T.J. enjoyed a good light beer and telling stories of old. He was a great family historian and enjoyed collecting swords and knives. He was known to always have a book in his hand; he loved westerns and spy novels. He was the friendliest little guy around. He could start conversations with total strangers and have them laugh in minutes. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by his sister, Blanche (Jobe) Metzgar and her husband George, of Washington Township; a brother, Don Jobe and his wife Cathy, of Washington Township; three nieces, Monique (Rob) Canonico, of Kailua, Hawaii, Mared Beling, of Puyallup, Wash., and Missy (Dave) Holm, of Washington Township; a nephew, Nathan (Nicki) Jobe, of Eden, N.Y.; and nine great-nieces and -nephews.
A memorial gathering will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon Monday, Jan. 8, followed by a memorial service at Delmont Presbyterian Church, 101 Church St., Delmont, PA 15626, with Pastor Caroline Vickery presiding. Funeral arrangements are being handled by BASH-NIED FUNERAL HOME, 152 Abbe Place, Delmont, 724-468-8381.
His family asks that memorial donations be made to the church. For online expressions of sympathy, please refer to the funeral home website, www.bash-niedfuneralhome.com.