Roy L. Thomas

Roy L. Thomas Jr, 93, of Freetown, passed away on September 6, 2018, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

For more than 34 years, he was the loving husband of Delia Thomas.

Born in Auburn, MA, in 1925, Roy was the son of the late Roy L. Thomas Sr and the late Ruth Miller Thomas. As a 17-year-old, Roy volunteered to fight in World War II and served with distinction, honored with various awards including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. After the war, Roy earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from WPI, and then he had a very successful career as an engineer for more than three decades. Perhaps most notably, he helped redesign ceiling sprinklers, greatly increasing fire safety. Roy had nine patents to his credit.

A master craftsman, he was also an avid sailor, associated with the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Fairhaven for more than four decades, teaching various courses there and once serving as Auxiliary Commander. Like many other Auxiliary members, he played a small role in the Department of Homeland Security. He was also a member of the US Power Squadron.

Physically very strong, he played football in high school and later took a casual interest in

professional baseball and football. He was passionate and meticulous about engineering and

sailing.

He and his wife Delia loved one another. They enjoyed countless hours sailing, many

hours in conversation, and some wine occasionally. In the final stages of his Alzheimer’s, she

called him “my Teddy Bear.”

The loving brother of Fred, who died from polio at 27, and stepfather of the deceased

Monroe Bethea Jr (51), Roy is survived by his wife Delia; his sister, Doris; his daughter Sharon

Massie, her husband Jim, and his son Jeffrey Thomas; his stepson Arthur Bethea and

stepdaughter Deanna Daley; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren including Monroe

Daley, with whom, before the ravages of Alzheimer’s took a greater effect, he had a special bond.

People are welcome to attend a brief service at the South Coast Chapel Mortuary, 158

Middleboro Rd, East Freetown, (508) 763-0000, on September 11th from 9:30am to 10:30am.

The graveside service is private.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Southcoast VNA Hospice Program are encouraged;

call 508-973-3470 or visit www.southcoastyvna.org for more details. Remembrances may also

be made to the Alzheimer’s Association; more details are available at www.alz.org.