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Mr. Roy Edward Thomas
08/18/1929 — 12/07/2014
From West Richland, WA | Born in Central City, CO
Mr. Roy Edward Thomas
Roy Edward Thomas, Jr. passed away Sunday December 7th, 2014. He was born August 18th, 1929 in Central City, Colorado to Roy and Abby Thomas. Roy graduated as the senior class president of Columbia High School in 1947 where he met his wife, Donna Irene Evert. They attended Eastern Washington State College where Roy earned a degree in Accounting. After graduating in 1951, Roy and Donna returned to Richland where Roy began his career with General Electric, and where they raised their five children.
As the nuclear power industry grew, Roy’s responsibilities for fiscal management increased, eventually leading him to positions with Battelle Northwest and Exxon Nuclear Company. In 1979, Roy and Donna moved with their two youngest children to Idaho Falls, ID where Roy served as Vice President of Finance and Administration with Exxon Nuclear Idaho Company. They later retired in Redmond, WA, and in 1997, returned to the Tri Cities.
Roy was an avid fly fisherman and the entire Thomas family enjoyed fishing trips with him on the lakes and rivers in the beautiful states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. They also hold fond memories of hot Tri Cities summers and water skiing on the Columbia River, particularly with long-time friends, Ron and Marilyn Tolman and family.
Roy is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Donna, and two grandsons, Keith and Aaron. He is survived by his five children: Graig Thomas (Janey); Gary Thomas (Judy); Gailann Thomas-Black (Gary); Gwenlyn Thomas; Geoff Thomas (Teri) and ten grandchildren: Jay, James-Roy, Jocelyn, Katherine, Emily, Nicole, Megan, Shealyn, Kylie; Dale; and nine great grandchildren.
The Thomas family would like to thank the staff at Fleur de lis Adult Family Homes for their care and support. In Roy’s honor, contributions may be made to the following organizations: Trout Unlimited (https://gifts.tumembership.org/donate) ; Pet Over Population Prevention (http//www.popptricities.org/; or The National Kidney Foundation (https://www.kindney.org).
Roy’s life will be celebrated in a private family gathering.
Roy was my cousin (his Dad was my mother Rose’s brother). I was surprised and saddened to hear of his death in the Alumni Sandstorm. I wondered why the Christmas card I sent him was returned. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this sad time.
We really appreciated getting to know Roy, Donna, and family while we were in Idaho Falls as neighbors from 1979 to 1981. We had good times together and we will remember them fondly. Roy was an excellent financial leader of the team that ran Exxon Nuclear Idaho Company for the DOE. We are sorry to learn of his passing and we wish the family our condolences.
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Mr. Roy Edward Thomas