Eugene Reed Thoms

Eugene is survived by his loving wife of 47 years Rozella June Thoms, his mother Alice Aileen Thoms, his brother Norman Duane Thoms, his sons Renny Eugene Thoms and Robby Eugene Thoms and grandchildren Shawn Rae and Kaylee Renee. He was predeceased by his father Ivan Eugene Thoms.

Eugene was born in Brush and raised in Hillrose, Colorado where he played basketball and football at Hillrose High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from the Oregon College of Education and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He was a lifelong fan of the Oregon Ducks.

GO DUCKS!

Eugene was a veteran of the US Army serving in the 864th Engineering Battalion in Vietnam from May 13, 1965 to April 29, 1966. He often recalled sailing on the USS General LeRoy Eltinge on the way there. Recently taken out of mothballs for the trip, the ship broke down on the way to Vietnam and had to be towed back across the international Date Line to Midway Island. While on the island he found an operational public phone and waited in line to call his mom. When he finally made it to Vietnam, he served as a heavy equipment operator and his brigade built warehouses and an airfield at Cam Ranh Bay.

Eugene taught math and computer science for 30 years at many institutions including Hesperia High School and nearby community colleges such as Victor Valley College, Chaffey College, and Norco College. He also worked on the construction of the Bonneville Dam in Oregon, worked at the coal fire plant in Boardman and surveyed most of the freeway system between Portland and Oregon City.

Eugene's hobbies were gardening, woodworking, reading, solving Sudoku puzzles, collecting marbles (because he had lost his), rocks and service memorabilla, yelling at pundits on television, and watching the birds in the backyard.

His funeral will be held on May 18, 2015 at 1:30pm at Staging Area #1 at RIverside National Cemetery in Riverside, CA. A reception will follow around 4:00pm at Eugene's home in Hesperia, CA. A special service will be held on May 17 at the Eben Ezer Church in Brush, CO. followed by a reception in the activity center starting at 3:00pm

In lieu of flowers please send donations to your favorite charity.