Robert Barkley Thomas

Robert Barkley Thomas, 66, of Prices Fork, died unexpectedly Saturday, December 3, 2011. Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., March 11, 1945, Bob was the son of the late Barkley and Margaret Ford Thomas. He graduated from Shelby (North Carolina) High School and attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Music was Bob's passion. He was a piano technician and a gifted musician who performed regularly in the local area and beyond. He played bass with No Strings Attached since 1984, the band Mood Swing, and most recently the trio The Triple Bs. Among Bob's survivors are his longtime companion, Patricia Polentz; his daughter, Maggie England and husband, Huiet; and grandsons, Mac and Jake England, of Cramerton, N.C.; sister, Susan Thomas, of Underhill, Vt.; niece, Johanna Hulick and family, of Seattle, Wash.; nephew, Jeremy Hulick, of Bethesda, Md.; aunt, Eleanor DeLashmutt, of Atlanta, Ga.; and several cousins. He will be sorely missed by friends and family and all who appreciated his humor and generosity. The date of a planned memorial celebration will be announced at a later time. Those who wish to make a contribution in his memory could donate to the New Orleans Musician's Relief Fund, the Humane Society of Montgomery County, or the charity of their choice.