BEVERLY: Robert F. Thomas, 76, died unexpectedly Thursday, March 11, 2010 at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of the late Jean C. Thomas who died on July 1, 2009.
Born in Salem on August 8, 1933, he was the son of the late George W. and Edna L. (Ross) Thomas. He grew up in Salem and was a graduate of Salem High School, Class of 1951. He and Jean built a home in the Prides Crossing area of Beverly where they raised their children & enjoyed fifty-three years of marriage. Bob honorably served his country in active duty during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953 as a submariner in the U.S. Navy.
He was employed by the New England Telephone Company, which he also fondly remembered as “Ma Bell,” for over thirty-five years before retiring in 1988 to pursue his hobbies of growing tomatoes from seed every summer, traveling with Jean and enjoying his grandchildren. He was a proud member and past president of the Italian American Citizens Club in Peabody.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and Joseph Shackleton of Prides Crossing, a son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey & Christine Thomas of Boise, Idaho; his grandchildren, Justin and his wife, Kristen Bemis of Prides Crossing, Erin Bemis-Thomas and her fiancé, Brian Bonsall of Mint Hill, NC, Cassie Shackleton of Prides Crossing and Nikki and Jessie Shackleton of Merrimac; a brother, David and his wife, Judy Thomas of Linden, VA. and his precious great-granddaughter, Hannah Jean, who was born in September and was the light of his life.
A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot Street, Beverly at 3 p.m. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1 – 3 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942 or to the Shriner’s Hospital, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114.