Robert William Thomason

Robert William Thomason was born February 24, 1934, in Sacramento, California and passed away at home peacefully on April 23, 2018. He was born to Charles Jerrett Rupley from Placerville and Rosalind Reed from Marysville. He was raised by his Mom and his Dad, William Marion Thomason, a grain rancher in Snelling, CA. Coming out of the Depression and working on a ranch, he learned early the value of hard work, self reliance and the importance of family.

Dad graduated from Merced High School and earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Nevada, Reno in 1956. He was a member and past President of Theta Chi Fraternity. He graduated from UNR, received his Commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army and married Bettina Ann Miller at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral all in the same day! He always said, "I picked the best-looking girl on campus".

The newlyweds left two days after their wedding for his job with Boeing Aircraft in Seattle for 6 months prior to reporting for active duty at Fort Belvoir, Virginia in the Army's Corps of Engineers. While back east they had two children. He returned to Fresno staying on active reserve with the 828th Station Hospital Unit. He was again called to active duty during the Berlin Crisis reporting to Madigan Army Hospital in Tacoma, WA. They returned to Fresno, where they had 4 more children.

Living in Fresno he completed a thirty-five year career in civil engineering working for the State of California Division of Highways, the City of Fresno-Development Services Department (parcel maps and subdivisions) and Cal Trans’s Highway Construction Department. Dad was a Registered Civil Engineer and during this time he was busy working to get that “Bean Money” by land surveying (one of his passions), developing and investing in apartments & rental houses, acquiring ranch lands (Dunlap and Squaw Valley) and developing the family almond business. He loved surveying in the foothills, developing springs, running the dozer and building fences. He loved working! He was a member of Yosemite Lodge #99 in Merced and the Scottish Rite in Fresno.

Dad really liked to hunt & fish (never enough time and "work before play") and all the outdoors activities. Dad was a Little League and Babe Ruth coach and supported his kids and grandkids in all of their athletic endeavors and other interests.

Dad is predeceased in death by his brother Burnie Thomason and his half-siblings Charlese, Richard, & Phyllis Kaye. He is survived by his loving wife, Tina, of 62 years. Their Family includes six children, fifteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren. His six children & spouses are Teresa & Richard Busch; Bob & Rhonda Thomason; Tori &Will McFeeters; Tina & Jeff Stein, Tamsen McNarie & Dave Chardavoyne; and Tricia & Ron Wathen. Grandkids and spouses are: Alex & Kristyna Busch; Andrew & Emily Busch; Amy (Busch) & Manuel Ramos; Aaron Busch; Jerrett & Megan Thomason; Justin Thomason; Jordan Thomason; Jenna Thomason; Elizabeth McFeeters; Katherine (McFeeters) & Chris Picone; Alice Stein; Anna (Stein) & Kyle Allen; Tera Wathen; Bret Wathen and Jamie Wathen. Great Grandkids: Arizona, Amalie and Freddy Busch. Also, surviving him are sister in law, Valdene; half-siblings Ted, Pat & Debbie; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be on Wednesday, May 2nd, at 10:00 a.m. at St. James Anglican Church, located at Campus Bible Church, 222 E. Fountain Way in Fresno. Gravesite service to follow at Belmont Memorial Gardens. Remembrances may be sent to St. James Anglican, 1300 E. Shaw Avenue, Ste. 174, Fresno, CA 93710 or the Parkinson’s Foundation in Fresno.