Dale A. Thayer
...active in St. William’s; Service Station owner; 71
TEWKSBURY - Dale A. Thayer, age 71, a well known and respected member of the Tewksbury
community, died Monday afternoon, June 26, at his Tewksbury home, after a brief and
courageous battle with cancer. He was the husband of Rose M. (Dundon) Thayer, with whom he
had celebrated a 47th wedding anniversary this past April 4th.
He was born in Providence, R.I., a son of the late Walter R. Thayer Jr, and Esther (Hulme)
Thayer, and was raised in Riverside, RI. Upon graduation from high school, he joined the U.S.
Army and served in the European Occupation Forces during the Korean War. Mr. Thayer went
on to earn a BSBA from the University of Rhode Island in 1961.
He lived in Riverside, R.I., Enfield CT, and New York, before moving to Tewksbury 30 years
ago. In his early years, Mr. Thayer summered in Dollycoppe, in the White Mountains of NH, and
in later years, summered at the family cottage in Block Island.
He spent his early career as a sales representative and property manager for Atlantic Richfield, or
ARCO, gasoline service stations. He later became an owner operator at Tewksbury Citgo, and
also Peabody Gulf. Since his retirement from gasoline services stations, he worked for the Town
of Tewksbury as a custodian at the Town Hall and Town Hall Annex, and most recently as a
sporting goods associate at Wal-Mart in Tewksbury.
Mr. Thayer was a devout Catholic layman, as an usher at St. William’s Church, a 3rd degree
member of the Fr. Coppen’s Council, K of C in Tewksbury, a 4th Degree in the Bishop Delaney
Assembly in Greater Lowell.
He was also a member of the Tewksbury-Wilmington Elks Lodge # 2070, a member of the
Tuesday Evening Golf League at Billerica Country Club, where he had the distinction of being the
loudest golfer, worked Bingo for St. William’s on Friday evenings, the Elks Bingo on Tuesday
and formerly worked Bingo at the K of C on Thursday evenings.
Mr. Thayer will be remembered for his love of the Boston Red Sox, his skill at Cribbage, but
especially for his quick wit, and sharp sense of humor.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Stephen D. Thayer of Lawrence; a daughter and son-in-
law, Diane and Scot Andrews of Pelham, NH; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Walter R. Thayer
III, M.D. and his wife Merideth of Riverside, RI, Alan Thayer and his wife Mary Ellen of WA;
two sisters and brothers-in-law, Marilyn Cote and her husband Robert of VA, E. Barbara
Monaghan and her husband David of Bellingham, MA; four grandchildren, Gary Raymond
Thayer, of Manchester, NH, Jack Thayer of Tewksbury, Dylan Andrews and Ryan Andrews of
Pelham, NH; his sisters-and brothers-in-law thru his wife, Joseph and Connie Fayan of Barrington,
RI, Elaine and Bill Layton of Riverside, RI, James and Robbyn Dundon of Fla, Michael Dundon
of WA; and many nieces and nephews, and dear friends.
He was also father of the late Raymond Thayer, Daniel Thayer, and brother of the late Nancy
Meehan.
His
Funeral Mass was celebrated Thursday, June 29, in St. William’s Church, Tewksbury. Burial was at Tewksbury Cemetery. Memorials to the Oblate Fathers Lay Association, 486 Chandler St.,
Tewksbury, MA 01876 or Lowell V.N.A. Hospice, P.O. 1965, Lowell, MA 01853 will be
appreciated.