Robert Lehman Thomas, a lifelong educator, died Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014, at his home in Carroll Park. He was 85.
Bob was born in Shamokin on May 21, 1929, the son of the late Paul and Anne Thomas. He graduated from Millersville University and received a master's degree in education from Bucknell University. He also worked as a swimming instructor in college and at summer camps. Bob taught shop and was an assistant principal in the Central Columbia School District before becoming principal of the Central Columbia Middle School. He was the first football coach and first wrestling coach at the then-new Central school district. After his retirement from Central, he worked for a number of years at Renco in Bloomsburg and served on the Scott Township Sewer Authority.
Bob was a legendary storyteller, and if a story was worth telling once, it was worth repeating – often, and at high volume – even if the details, and especially the numbers, changed with every telling. He was able to repair just about anything, and if conventional methods didn't work, he'd resort to another patented approach – hitting the balky item with a hammer. He always told his daughters he could fix anything but a broken heart.
He was also a skilled outdoorsman, and spent many happy days hunting for deer, grouse and turkeys and fishing for trout. He enjoyed planting trees for the benefit of future generations. Bob was a longtime member of the West Creek Rod and Gun Club in Jackson Township, Columbia County, where in addition to his outdoor activities he claimed to be a masterful poker player. (There is no independent evidence to support that claim.) He also loved to spend time at the family cabin in Jackson Township, where if he wasn't hunting or fishing, he was reading westerns or rooting for Penn State and the Pittsburgh Steelers football teams.
And he was an accomplished cook. Woe be to anyone who questioned or tried to alter a recipe in his kitchen, especially the stuffing for the Thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys.
Bob was married to Patricia Henry Thomas. They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary on August 30. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters Gaye Eppley and Jodie Morris; grandson Alex Eppley; great-granddaughters Paige, Alyssa, and Keira; Alex's fiancé Becky Plante and her children, Kylie, Taryn and Caden; brother Gary Thomas and sister-in-law Jan Thomas; and son-in-law David Morris. He was enormously proud of grandson Alex, and adored his great-granddaughters.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Ken.
He was a member of the Bloomsburg Elks and the Knapp Lodge 462 F&AM of Berwick and was a member of the Ridge Street United Methodist Church in Almedia.
A time of Visitation for family and friends will be held on Tuesday morning, October 28 from 10 to 11 a.m. from the Ridge Street United Methodist Church, 145 Ridge St. (Almedia), Bloomsburg.
Funeral services will also begin on Tuesday morning, October 28 at 11 a.m. from the Ridge Street United Methodist Church with Rev. Robert Eddinger, officiating. Graveside committal services will immediately follow in the Creveling Cemetery, Almedia. The Allen Funeral Home, Inc., 745 Market at Eighth Street, Bloomsburg is honored to be serving the Thomas family.
Memorial contributions in Bob's name are suggested to the Ridge Street United Methodist Church, 143 Ridge St., Bloomsburg, PA 17815 or the American Heart Association, 1704 Warren Ave., Williamsport, PA 17701.