FIND AN OBITUARY
Service information is posted on our website only with approval from the family.
If you are seeking information not listed below, please contact us.
Richard ”Dick” John Thomas
02/17/1940 — 04/23/2005
From West, Richland, WA, US | Born in Spokane, Washington
Richard ”Dick” John Thomas
Richard John Thomas, 65, of West Richland, passed away April 23, 2005 in Seattle, Washington. He was born February 17, 1940 in Spokane, Washington to Raymond and Louise Thomas. He is a graduate of Gonzaga University.
Dick was proud of this country, serving in the Naval Reserves for 25 years. He was an active member of Christ the King Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He was employed with Babcock Services, Inc. at PFP. He was also an active blood donor, giving 31 gallons. He enjoyed hunting, bike riding and walking in the outdoors. A back yard mechanic, he liked to help family and friends.
Richard is survived by his wife of 36 years Rosemary Regimbal Thomas of Richland; sons Edward J. Thomas and wife Lisa L. of West Richland, Joseph G. Thomas and wife Hillary K. of Richland, and William K. Thomas and wife Angela N. of Richland; daughters Jennifer M. Brazeau and husband Joseph P. of Richland and Erica L. Thomas of Richland; father Raymond J. Thomas of Spokane; grandchildren Austen, Logan, Jacob, Allison and Loni; brother Charles Thomas of Spokane; sisters Catherine Riley of Boise, ID, Louise St. Hilaire of Pasco and Mary Wass of Pasco; numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, April 30, 2005 at 2:00 PM at Christ the King Catholic Church in Richland. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be Friday the 29th at 6:00 PM at Einans Funeral Home in Richland
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ the King Building Fund.
We will forever remember how Dick was always so excited to be able to drive our car on degree trips. He was someone you could trust to treat your car with care, whenever he drove it. Dick, you will be greatly missed.
Rosemary and Family:
I am so sorry about Dick…we were all very sad to hear about the accident and especially his death. If you guys need ANYTHING, just call. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and we hope that you can find some peace knowing what a wonderful man your husband and father was.
Dear Rosemary,
I am on board ship in Brazil and won’t be home until May 14. I’m sorry that I can’t be there to tell you in person how shocked and saddened I was to hear about Dick’s accident. I have so many fond memories of Dick!
I have asked Father to offer mass tomorrow for Dick and for your family here on the ship.
Love,
Mary Ann McLaughlin
Rosemary & family,
We just heard, Cherie mailed us a note. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. Take care, God bless you in this difficult time. Love,
Lauren Aunt Margaret’s Daughter
You will be missed Dick. Dick and I used to wait for our vans at the same place. One day he didn’t show up. The next day he was there, he had dodged a skunk with his bike and hit a garbage can. He was there with a smile and a story.
Always very very fond memories of Mr. Thomas. One of the greatest guys I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He had a way of making you feel special. Always had a smile on his face, always was genuinely intersted in what you had been up to, and always happy to see you. This was the way Mr. Thomas always was from the first time I met him as his paperboy in 1977 to the last time I saw him three months ago at Will’s birthday party. I will miss you Mr. Thomas. Rest in Peace.
Gary Geiger
My condolences – We are all feeling this loss.
Rosemary & Family
We will miss Dick very much. Knowing him for 29 years, and 25 in the reserves I got to know Dick pretty well. He was pure joy to be around, to work with and to have fun with. I have some very wonderful memories of Dick. This is such a sad time but we know he is in God’s arms. If there is anything we can do, please let us know. His ole navy buddy.
I got to know Dick from 1981 to 1985 when I was a secretary at Plant Engineering. I remember he would tap on my desk each time he went by to say hello. His smile and pleasant personality were memorable. I want to express my sympathy to his family on their loss.
Dear Thomas family,
I am so very sorry for the loss of your dear husband and wonderful father. Our community has been rooting all along for his recovery. I am so sorry for your loss ! May your strong faith and your beautiful family keep you all strong and give each other comfort in these difficult times. Rest assure that I will keep you all in my prayers ! My love, Delia Gonzalez
I’ll really miss you, Uncle Dick. I feel blessed to have so many great memories of you. You were just a great guy to be around.
Mr. Thomas will be missed. He was a kind man. We will miss seeing him working in the yard on Taylor Street. We always had looked forward to seeing his smiling face. His laughter was contagious! Your family is in our prayers. We love you…. Brad, Nicole & kids.
Dick,
You were always such an upbeat person and a joy to be around…we will miss you a lot…will sure miss you Thursday’s night’s when we all sit around and share stories at the golf course…
God be with you….Love Jo & Marv Bohling
To the Thomas Family:
My life has dimmed a little with Dick’s passing, he will be greatly missed at PFP ~ his smile that was there for everyone ~ his positive attitude ~ his friendship. My prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Mr. Thomas was one of the kindest men I have ever met. Not only was he the father of one of my best friends but also my landlord for a year and a half. It was great to see his smiling face when he would stop by the house. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas let me stay at their house a couple months without hesitation. That is just the kind of family they are. We will miss him dearly and my heart goes out to Mrs. Thomas, Erica, Jen, Will, Joe, Ed, and the rest of the family.
With love,
Liz and Tim Lee
I just recently heard of the tragic accident that took Dick from you. I was lucky to work with Dick at PFP in 2003 on the PRF Canyon cleanup design. I enjoyed working with him so much and we had a really good working relationship. I’ll always remember Dick fondly and know his other work colleagues deeply regret the loss too.
With sincere sympathy,
Betty Carteret
Anacortes, WA
I will miss you Dick, you were one of the only ones at Hanford who mad me feel welcome so quickly. You touched me with your exhuberance, Thank you.
I will pray for you and your family in this tough time. I know you are in a greater place now. God bless.
Having the opportunity to know and to work with Dick at PFP was a blessing in itself. He was a great man, father and good Christian. He will be greatly missed. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with all of his family at this time and always.
May God Bless you and keep you, make his face to shine on you and give you peace. I was lucky to work with such an upbeat and persistent guy. Based upon what I know of his faith, I know that Dick is in goods hands. But I will miss his presence here very much. I am very sorry for your loss. He is irreplaceable.
I have worked with Dick since I arrived at the PFP in 1988. In addition to recalling the fine Engineering work he performed, we shared bread and canning recipies and enjoyed general conversations on many topics. What is most memorable for me, however, is that he is the perfect example of a kind, compulsively good natured person. I never once recall him being in anything other than a good spirited mood. Dick shall be sorely missed in my life. May God keep him and provide healing for all his family and friends.
Dick was one of the first people I met when I moved to the Tri-Cities more than 30 years ago. We served together in the Naval Reserve for many years, and I always looked forward to seeing the Chief with a smile on his face and a spring in his step. Later I worked with Dick on several projects at PFP and got to witness his fine technical skills and bright mind. Just a few months ago I was talking to him about the joys of retirement and the military benefits that help make it easier – he was taken from us much too soon.
Dick, I am proud to call you shipmate. Fair winds and following seas, my friend. Godspeed!
We will forever remember how Dick was always so excited to be able to drive our car on degree trips. He was someone you could trust to treat your car with care, whenever he drove it. Dick, you will be greatly missed.
Rosemary and Family:
I am so sorry about Dick…we were all very sad to hear about the accident and especially his death. If you guys need ANYTHING, just call. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and we hope that you can find some peace knowing what a wonderful man your husband and father was.
Dear Rosemary,
I am on board ship in Brazil and won’t be home until May 14. I’m sorry that I can’t be there to tell you in person how shocked and saddened I was to hear about Dick’s accident. I have so many fond memories of Dick!
I have asked Father to offer mass tomorrow for Dick and for your family here on the ship.
Love,
Mary Ann McLaughlin
Rosemary & family,
We just heard, Cherie mailed us a note. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. Take care, God bless you in this difficult time. Love,
Lauren Aunt Margaret’s Daughter
You will be missed Dick. Dick and I used to wait for our vans at the same place. One day he didn’t show up. The next day he was there, he had dodged a skunk with his bike and hit a garbage can. He was there with a smile and a story.
Always very very fond memories of Mr. Thomas. One of the greatest guys I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He had a way of making you feel special. Always had a smile on his face, always was genuinely intersted in what you had been up to, and always happy to see you. This was the way Mr. Thomas always was from the first time I met him as his paperboy in 1977 to the last time I saw him three months ago at Will’s birthday party. I will miss you Mr. Thomas. Rest in Peace.
Gary Geiger
My condolences – We are all feeling this loss.
Rosemary & Family
We will miss Dick very much. Knowing him for 29 years, and 25 in the reserves I got to know Dick pretty well. He was pure joy to be around, to work with and to have fun with. I have some very wonderful memories of Dick. This is such a sad time but we know he is in God’s arms. If there is anything we can do, please let us know. His ole navy buddy.
I got to know Dick from 1981 to 1985 when I was a secretary at Plant Engineering. I remember he would tap on my desk each time he went by to say hello. His smile and pleasant personality were memorable. I want to express my sympathy to his family on their loss.
Dear Thomas family,
I am so very sorry for the loss of your dear husband and wonderful father. Our community has been rooting all along for his recovery. I am so sorry for your loss ! May your strong faith and your beautiful family keep you all strong and give each other comfort in these difficult times. Rest assure that I will keep you all in my prayers ! My love, Delia Gonzalez
I’ll really miss you, Uncle Dick. I feel blessed to have so many great memories of you. You were just a great guy to be around.
Mr. Thomas will be missed. He was a kind man. We will miss seeing him working in the yard on Taylor Street. We always had looked forward to seeing his smiling face. His laughter was contagious! Your family is in our prayers. We love you…. Brad, Nicole & kids.
Dick,
You were always such an upbeat person and a joy to be around…we will miss you a lot…will sure miss you Thursday’s night’s when we all sit around and share stories at the golf course…
God be with you….Love Jo & Marv Bohling
To the Thomas Family:
My life has dimmed a little with Dick’s passing, he will be greatly missed at PFP ~ his smile that was there for everyone ~ his positive attitude ~ his friendship. My prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Mr. Thomas was one of the kindest men I have ever met. Not only was he the father of one of my best friends but also my landlord for a year and a half. It was great to see his smiling face when he would stop by the house. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas let me stay at their house a couple months without hesitation. That is just the kind of family they are. We will miss him dearly and my heart goes out to Mrs. Thomas, Erica, Jen, Will, Joe, Ed, and the rest of the family.
With love,
Liz and Tim Lee
I just recently heard of the tragic accident that took Dick from you. I was lucky to work with Dick at PFP in 2003 on the PRF Canyon cleanup design. I enjoyed working with him so much and we had a really good working relationship. I’ll always remember Dick fondly and know his other work colleagues deeply regret the loss too.
With sincere sympathy,
Betty Carteret
Anacortes, WA
I will miss you Dick, you were one of the only ones at Hanford who mad me feel welcome so quickly. You touched me with your exhuberance, Thank you.
I will pray for you and your family in this tough time. I know you are in a greater place now. God bless.
Having the opportunity to know and to work with Dick at PFP was a blessing in itself. He was a great man, father and good Christian. He will be greatly missed. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with all of his family at this time and always.
May God Bless you and keep you, make his face to shine on you and give you peace. I was lucky to work with such an upbeat and persistent guy. Based upon what I know of his faith, I know that Dick is in goods hands. But I will miss his presence here very much. I am very sorry for your loss. He is irreplaceable.
I have worked with Dick since I arrived at the PFP in 1988. In addition to recalling the fine Engineering work he performed, we shared bread and canning recipies and enjoyed general conversations on many topics. What is most memorable for me, however, is that he is the perfect example of a kind, compulsively good natured person. I never once recall him being in anything other than a good spirited mood. Dick shall be sorely missed in my life. May God keep him and provide healing for all his family and friends.
Dick was one of the first people I met when I moved to the Tri-Cities more than 30 years ago. We served together in the Naval Reserve for many years, and I always looked forward to seeing the Chief with a smile on his face and a spring in his step. Later I worked with Dick on several projects at PFP and got to witness his fine technical skills and bright mind. Just a few months ago I was talking to him about the joys of retirement and the military benefits that help make it easier – he was taken from us much too soon.
Dick, I am proud to call you shipmate. Fair winds and following seas, my friend. Godspeed!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time. May God bless you and grant you peace.
With love,
Jeff, Andrea, Ashlyn, Mason and Adriana
Our prayers go out to the Thomas family in their time of need. May the lord be with you and may you find strengh from him.
Your father, husband, and family remains in our thoughts and prayers. Our prayer is that Mr. Thomas, who was loved by his family and friends, is now with the one who would lead us to all to glory and virtue.
You were a great friend. You always came quickly when I needed help. I will miss you at the Thursday evening dinners at WRMGC and all the other social events. I know you are with God and in a much better place.
To Will Thomas & Family
Are thoughts & prayers are with you!
Sean & Jaime Magnuson
Thomas Family
Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. We knew Dick from work and church. We will always remember his great smile! We pray the God’s love and grace comfort you during this time and for the years to come.
Dick was all that a man should be: an exemplary Christian, patriotic, firm but gentle, giving, honest, devoted, adventurous, interesting, and just plain a good friend of mine. I’ll miss him much even though we didn’t meet as often as would be liked. May God receive him in His loving arms forever. Dick St. Hilaire
Our fondest condolences to you and your family. Both Bennie and I am glad to have known such a wonderful and kind man. We will forever remember him and carry his memory in our hearts.
Guestbook for
Richard ”Dick” John Thomas