Robert W. Thomas' Obituary
Robert W. Thomas was born on July 17, 1924 on the family farm in Eastatoe, Pickens Co., S. Carolina to Rhett & Ila Cantrell Thomas.
He died at a Longview hospital on October 24, 2010 at the age of 86.
Bob had a brother John born in 1922 and a sister Rubye born in 1926. At a very young age, Bob & his siblings lost their mother to pneumonia. Just shy of his 17th birthday, Bob, along with his brother John, joined the Civil Conservation Corps CCC wher he servied in S.C. and then was transferred to Montesano, WA. He remained with the CCC until they closed in 1942.
He then moved to Westport, OR and worked with the Soil Conservation Service until he was drafted into the Army in 1943. After the Army he went back to Westport where he worked as a bartender at the hotel owned by the Shhard & Morris Lumber Co. He lated got a job at the company's sawmill where he stayed until they shut down in 1956.
He married Katherine Reed in 1957 and the moved to St. Helens where he took a job with the Kaiser Gypsum mill until they shut down in 1982.
Katherine passied 1998 after 41 years of marriage. Bob met Jackie in 1999 and the were married in 2000.
Bob maintained and extensive garen for 50 years growing a variety of fruit, vegetables and berries that he and Jackie kindly shared with family and friends. Some of Bob's favorite pastimes included: woodworking and fishing.
Survivors include: Wife Jackie of St. Helens; long-time friends: Steve & Larry McLeod and their families.
Siblings: John Thomas, Rubye Scarlett; Step Children: Dorothy Trotter, Linda Bubar Willie, James Peck Candace; 3 grandchildren-Billy, Bobby, Margaret Trotter.
Private Family services
on-line condolences may be sent to the family at www.columbiafh.com
Columbia Funeral Home-Directors
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