Robert Thomas

Robert (Bob) Henry Thomas

Robert (Bob) Henry Thomas age 88, passed away peacefully Sunday April 13, 2014 at his home in Lodi, California. Bob was born in Bellingham Washington in 1925 and attended the University of Washington. He served his country for 21 years in the US Navy in assignments ranging  from Executive Officer and Navigator of a post World War II mine sweeper in Japan to hydrographic survey work in Greenland. He retired with the rank of Commander and moved to the Bay Area in 1964  to complete a Mechanical Engineering postgraduate program at Stanford University.  Later, Bob  worked in the Marine division at Westinghouse Corporation for many years before retiring to spend many happy hours onboard his beloved Lummi II. Along the way, Bob met a certain Lt. Elizabeth (Betty) Buckley, Navy nurse while stationed in Astoria, Oregon. They were married in 1953 in the chapel on Treasure Island, Ca, and began to build a life together.  Bob and Betty celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary among many dear friends and family in 2003. He often reminisced about how he loved that party! They remained married and devoted to each other until Betty's death in 2010. Bob leaves behind his four children, Janet (Klaus) Westphal Boulder Creek Ca, Eileen (Randy)  Elder Loomis Ca, Paul Thomas Austin Tx, and Anne (Craig) Karasky San Carlos Ca. Seven grandchildren Laura Westphal, Wendy Danning, Katie Westphal, Elizabeth Elder, Madeline Elder, Joseph Karasky, and Jack Karasky.  A burial with full military honors will be held April 30th  beginning at 10am at the All Saints Chapel at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos, Ca.