Robert R. Thomas

Lieutenant Colonel Robert R. Thomas, USAF, Retired, passed away at Kent General Hospital in Dover, DE. on January 27, 2015.  He was born on April 1, 1935 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to George and Lillian Green Thomas.

In 1954 Robert graduated from Cass Technical School in Detroit, Michigan.  From there he enlisted in the Air Force and attended aviation cadet training at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, Texas.  He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, and served in Iceland, Japan, and Vietnam, where he received two Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross.  He retired in 1974 while serving as Commander of the 436th OMS at Dover Air Force Base.

After leaving the Air Force, he worked 11 years at Met Life Insurance with his best friend, Gene Sterling.  Then he worked as Project Manager for several construction products including Nanticoke Hospital and Lifecare at Loftland Nursing Home in Seaford, DE. and Milford Hospital, building the Rehab Center in Milford.  

For 41 years, he served on the Board of Directors for Kent Sussex Industries, and as President for five years.  He was active in Special Olympics for many years, coaching several sports including bowling, until he retired in 2001.

For many years, Bob also worked for Dawson Bus Service, driving the school bus for children with special needs.  He said it was the best job he ever had, stating “where else could you take a drive every day in the country and get paid for it?”  He was also a member of the American Legion Post 2, in Dover, and the Vietnam Veterans of America, Kent County Chapter 850.

He was preceded in death by his son, Richard W. Thomas in 1973; his first wife of 36 ½ years, Beatrice Blair Thomas in 1993; his brother, George W. Thomas of Texas, in 2002; and Sister, Pat Bolton in 2013.

Robert is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth Thomas, whom he married in 1996; a son, Robert (Bobby) Thomas of Dover; 2 daughters, Donna Lococo and her husband Donald of Newtown, Ct., and Denise Buckingham and her husband, Rodney; 2 grandsons, Rodney and David Buckingham, all of Gambrills, Md.; 2 stepsons, Michael Conley of Dover, DE. and David Conley of Salisbury, Md.; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will take place on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 4:00 pm, at Pippin     Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden Wyoming Avenue, Wyoming, Delaware 19934.  Friends may call two hours prior.  Committal service with full military honors will take place on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at 2:00 pm, at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro.  Procession will leave from Pippin Funeral Home at 1:00 pm.

The family would like to express deep gratitude and appreciation to the ICU staff at Kent General Hospital, for their care, service, and support during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers the family would like to suggest charitable donations to Kent Sussex Industries, Inc. 301 N. Rehoboth Blvd., Milford, De 19963-1305; or Whatcoat United Methodist Church, 16 North Main Street Camden, De 19934.

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