Robert M. Thomas

Robert M. Thomas, age 81, of Woodland, Maine died peacefully in his sleep on December 4th, 2023.

He was born in Caribou, Maine on March 2nd, 1942, to Allan M. Thomas and Enid U. (Meredith)Thomas.  He was the 4th oldest of seven brothers and sisters.  He was raised on the family farm located on North Main Street in Caribou. 

He attended and graduated from the Caribou School system in the class of 1960.  He was active in the local FFA chapter in high school and remained active with the chapter throughout most of his life.

Soon after graduation he enlisted into the Maine Army National Guard and served until his mandatory retirement at age 60.  He served most of his military career in the 152nd FA at the Armory in Caribou.  He deployed to numerous Humanitarian events within the state of Maine. He was deployed numerous times to Fort Sill, Fort Drum, Gage Town Canada and Germany for training exercises.

Over the years he worked for and retired from the State of Maine.  He worked for the Federal State Inspection Service inspecting Potatoes and Blueberries and as a Soils Technician checking compaction on new road construction throughout the state.  He fondly remembered working at the Eastern Fine Paper mill in Brewer Maine.  He farmed most of his life on the family property in Caribou or the farm in Woodland.  He grew potatoes, flax, lupines, buckwheat and oats. Bob's final years were spent cutting and baling hay.   In the early spring he was often found tapping trees or boiling down sap to make Maple Syrup.  When he wasn’t out at the farm, he could usually be found at Stan’s Store at Madawaska Lake, waiting on customers, playing cribbage, or visiting with them.

He met his second spouse while attending Caribou United Baptist Church where he was a lifetime member. He held various positions within the church including doing mission work, the “Operation Christmas Child” program and working at “Baptist Park” in Mapleton.  Elverine predeceased him in May of 2014. They were married for 17 years.

He is survived by his daughter and her family Deborah A. and her husband Robert A. Walo of Plymouth NC.  Her children Maeve K. and husband Troy Ashcroft of Albany NY, Taylor R. T. and wife Meghan Wood and son Rowan of Mechanic Falls ME, and Eileen L. Walo of Plymouth NC.

He is survived by his son and his family  Robert M. Thomas II and his fiancé Stepanie Venable-Tucker of Oak Grove MO, his children Meredith L. Thomas of GA, Audrey G. Thomas of Olathe KS, Robert M. Thomas III of Oak Grove MO, John S. Thomas of Oak Grove, Samantha E. Venable-Tucker and son Sawyer of Blue Springs MO and Silas G. Venable-Tucker of Oak Grove, MO.

He was preceded in death by his brothers Arthur, Stanley and Gilbert.  He is survived by brother Charles and his wife Shirley Thomas of Londonderry, NH and sisters Emilie Martin of Chipley, FL and Ruth and Jared Tozier of Lynchburg, VA and numerous nieces and nephews.

Spring interment with military honors will be held at the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery, Caribou.