Richard F. Thomas Sr., 69, of Hampstead, NH, passed away on Sunday March 26, 2023 in Mass General Hospital, Boston, MA, surrounded by his family. He was born on February 3, 1954, in Brookline, MA, a son of George E. Thomas Sr. and Eleanor (Lavalle) Petit and had been a resident of Hampstead for the past 5 years, formerly living in Greenfield, MA. Richard proudly served his country in the US Marines during Vietnam. He was a former District Chief for the Federal Railroad Administration for 28 years. He loved fishing with his grandsons. He also loved hunting with his son Richie Jr., his grandson Jace and his brother George. He also enjoyed building motorcycles, one of his many talents, and loved teaching his grandson Jace how to build, fix and maintain anything with a motor. He was a lifelong train enthusiast. He worked for the US DOT where he received some of the highest medals of honor.
He is survived by his three children, Jodi Thomas (Dennis) Booska of Greenfield, MA; Richard (Felicia Silverio) Thomas, Jr. of Hampstead, NH, and Colleen Thomas (James) Sutton of Nashville, TN; his step-daughter Ginny (Leanord) McDonald of Greenfield, MA, eight grandchildren, Steven Morin, Joei Adams, Cody Booska, Alyssa Adams, Brady Booska, Creed Gilley, Rylee Thomas and Jace Thomas; one great granddaughter Kylie Gann, his brothers, George and Dr. Candace Thomas of Cambridge, MA and Keith Thomas of North Andover, MA; three sisters, Francine Thomas of Billerica, MA, Elizabeth Thomas of Cambridge, MA and Elaine Thomas of Orange, MA, as well as several nieces and nephews.
There are no calling hours. Following cremation, a graveside service with Military Honors will be held on Friday, May 26th at 9 am at the NH State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, NH. A celebration of life will follow from 11 am to 3:30 pm at Jamison’s Restaurant, 472 NH Route 111, Hampstead, NH. Memorial contributions may be made to the Rylee Ann Thomas Foundation, 77 Stage Rd, Hampstead, NH 03841. The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch Street, Derry is handling the arrangements.