Obituary for Harold J. Thomas Jr.
Harold J. Thomas Jr., 95, of Kennebunk, ME, formerly of Chelmsford and Marstons Mills, Cape Cod, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of the late Barbara L. (Neal) Thomas with whom he shared 61 years of marriage until her passing in 2012.
He was born in Newton, MA on June 30, 1927 and was a son of the late Harold J. Sr. and Catherine (McDonald) Thomas.
Harold was raised and went to the public schools in Newton where he graduated from Newton High School in 1944. He played on the high school football and baseball teams during his high school years. After graduating from high school, Harold entered Northeastern University for one year, then enlisted in the US Navy at the tail end of World War II. After being honorably discharged from the US Navy in 1946, he returned to Northeastern on the Co-Op plan and graduated in 1950 with a BS in Business Administration. He met and fell in love with his future wife, Barbara while working on a Co-Op assignment at BB Chemical in Cambridge, MA. They married in 1951 and raised 6 children together in Massachusetts, mostly in Chelmsford.
For most of Harold’s working career, he was a Contracting Officer for the U.S. Airforce at Hanscom Field in Bedford, MA where he led a team to procure radar systems and other electronics for the federal government. Harold was highly regarded by senior Air Force Command Officers and received numerous commendations and awards in carrying out his duties.
Throughout his life, Harold was a true family man and always put his wife, kids and family first. He was a great father and husband. He was like a rock and was always there to support and help in times of need. He especially enjoyed taking and attending his boys’ hockey, football and baseball games and practices, cheering them on in the stands. He spent many weekends throughout the years taking the boys to Canada and other parts of the northeast for hockey tournaments.
Harold enjoyed working around the house and in his yard, meticulously maintaining his manicured lawn and flower beds. He was an avid fan of the Bruins, Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics. His favorite was the Bruins. Up until his passing, he rarely missed a televised game and would always want to watch the games with his sons when they came to visit him and discuss the game like on sports radio.
After all their children graduated from Chelmsford High School, Harold and Barbara moved to their beautiful home in Marstons Mills in 1985. Shortly thereafter, Harold retired from working for the Air Force and then spent 5 years at GTE in the contracting department performing similar duties as when he was with the Air Force. After Harold’s retirement from GTE, he and Barbara would spend time traveling. Their favorite trip was to Scotland with Barbara’s sister Delores and her husband Charlie (Harold’s best friend). Harold was a member of the Cape Cod Senior Softball Team for many years representing the Cape in tournaments throughout the eastern part of the US.
In 2004, Harold and Barbara moved to Arundel, ME where their daughter Cathy resides and sons Bob and Brian have homes, enjoying the southern Maine Seacoast area and visits from their children and grandchildren. Sons Tim and Don would also make frequent visits for holidays and family get togethers. Sadly, Harold lost his beloved wife after a battle with cancer in 2012. Harold continued spending time tending to his lawn and visiting with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Being a devout Catholic, Harold attended Mass at St. Phillips Parish in Lyman and became friends with many of the senior communicants, meeting them for coffee after Sunday morning Mass at Dunkin Donuts. During the coffee get togethers, Harold became a dear friend of Gloria Chouinard. Gloria and Harold would get together for lunch, rides, shopping at Market Basket, family gatherings, plays at the Ogunquit Playhouse and other occasions. Gloria made Harold very happy over the last few years of his life and Gloria was there every step of the way for Harold until the very end.
Harold leaves his children, Robert L. Thomas and his wife Lynne, Catherine A. Wholey and her husband John, Brian Thomas and his wife Susan, and Timothy Thomas and his fiancé Tina; his 8 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Sadly, he was predeceased by his sons, Peter N. and Donald R. Thomas, and his sister Norma Louise Bolduc.
Visiting Hours will be held on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 from 8:30 – 10:00 am in the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 11 am following the visitation at St. Mary Parish, 25 North Rd., Chelmsford. Interment with military honors in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Chelmsford. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine.
He was born in Newton, MA on June 30, 1927 and was a son of the late Harold J. Sr. and Catherine (McDonald) Thomas.
Harold was raised and went to the public schools in Newton where he graduated from Newton High School in 1944. He played on the high school football and baseball teams during his high school years. After graduating from high school, Harold entered Northeastern University for one year, then enlisted in the US Navy at the tail end of World War II. After being honorably discharged from the US Navy in 1946, he returned to Northeastern on the Co-Op plan and graduated in 1950 with a BS in Business Administration. He met and fell in love with his future wife, Barbara while working on a Co-Op assignment at BB Chemical in Cambridge, MA. They married in 1951 and raised 6 children together in Massachusetts, mostly in Chelmsford.
For most of Harold’s working career, he was a Contracting Officer for the U.S. Airforce at Hanscom Field in Bedford, MA where he led a team to procure radar systems and other electronics for the federal government. Harold was highly regarded by senior Air Force Command Officers and received numerous commendations and awards in carrying out his duties.
Throughout his life, Harold was a true family man and always put his wife, kids and family first. He was a great father and husband. He was like a rock and was always there to support and help in times of need. He especially enjoyed taking and attending his boys’ hockey, football and baseball games and practices, cheering them on in the stands. He spent many weekends throughout the years taking the boys to Canada and other parts of the northeast for hockey tournaments.
Harold enjoyed working around the house and in his yard, meticulously maintaining his manicured lawn and flower beds. He was an avid fan of the Bruins, Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics. His favorite was the Bruins. Up until his passing, he rarely missed a televised game and would always want to watch the games with his sons when they came to visit him and discuss the game like on sports radio.
After all their children graduated from Chelmsford High School, Harold and Barbara moved to their beautiful home in Marstons Mills in 1985. Shortly thereafter, Harold retired from working for the Air Force and then spent 5 years at GTE in the contracting department performing similar duties as when he was with the Air Force. After Harold’s retirement from GTE, he and Barbara would spend time traveling. Their favorite trip was to Scotland with Barbara’s sister Delores and her husband Charlie (Harold’s best friend). Harold was a member of the Cape Cod Senior Softball Team for many years representing the Cape in tournaments throughout the eastern part of the US.
In 2004, Harold and Barbara moved to Arundel, ME where their daughter Cathy resides and sons Bob and Brian have homes, enjoying the southern Maine Seacoast area and visits from their children and grandchildren. Sons Tim and Don would also make frequent visits for holidays and family get togethers. Sadly, Harold lost his beloved wife after a battle with cancer in 2012. Harold continued spending time tending to his lawn and visiting with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Being a devout Catholic, Harold attended Mass at St. Phillips Parish in Lyman and became friends with many of the senior communicants, meeting them for coffee after Sunday morning Mass at Dunkin Donuts. During the coffee get togethers, Harold became a dear friend of Gloria Chouinard. Gloria and Harold would get together for lunch, rides, shopping at Market Basket, family gatherings, plays at the Ogunquit Playhouse and other occasions. Gloria made Harold very happy over the last few years of his life and Gloria was there every step of the way for Harold until the very end.
Harold leaves his children, Robert L. Thomas and his wife Lynne, Catherine A. Wholey and her husband John, Brian Thomas and his wife Susan, and Timothy Thomas and his fiancé Tina; his 8 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Sadly, he was predeceased by his sons, Peter N. and Donald R. Thomas, and his sister Norma Louise Bolduc.
Visiting Hours will be held on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 from 8:30 – 10:00 am in the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 11 am following the visitation at St. Mary Parish, 25 North Rd., Chelmsford. Interment with military honors in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Chelmsford. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine.